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Globe and Mail, Canada - If the Venetian audiences are any kind of bellwether, things are looking good for Canadian director Paul Haggis and the debut of his new film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Canadian director was treated to a 10-minute standing ovation on Saturday night when his In the Valley of Elah screened at the Venice Film Festival. In the Valley of Elah, which stars Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, focuses on the psychological scars that haunt returning soldiers and provides a powerful commentary on how society is treating veterans and their families. The Iraq war is turning out to be a hot theme in films this fall. Hollywood director Brian de Palma’s film Redacted, which will also screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, which begins on Thursday,also got a standing ovation in Venice. Both films are considered contenders for the festival’s coveted Golden Lion. “My film is not essentially about war in Iraq,” said Haggis, 54, before the film screened at Venice. “It is more of a social study of so-called ‘post-combat’ stress.”… [Full Story] |
