George Clooney’s Enduring Romance with Venice: A New Chapter Unfolds

POLICY WIRE — Venice, Italy — George Clooney’s affection for Venice is legendary. This year, his love affair with the city takes a new turn as he is set to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Award at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, starting on Wednesday.

Clooney’s relationship with Venice began nearly three decades ago with the premiere of “Out of Sight” at the festival. Since then, he has become a staple at the event, celebrating milestones such as his wedding at the Aman Venice and the debut of “Good Night, and Good Luck,” which earned him his first Oscar nomination for best director.

This year, Clooney will be honored with the prestigious Golden Lion, mirroring the plot of his recent film “Jay Kelly,” where he plays a movie star receiving a lifetime achievement award in Italy. His connection to Venice is further solidified by his 15-bedroom villa on Lake Como, which has been a frequent backdrop in his films.

Clooney’s journey in Venice is marked by several memorable moments. His black-and-white drama “Good Night, and Good Luck” premiered at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, earning six Oscar nominations. His wedding to Amal Alamuddin in 2014 at the Aman Grand Canal was a star-studded affair, attended by friends like Bono and Matt Damon.

His latest appearance at the festival with Brad Pitt for the film “Wolfs” has drawn attention not just for the movie, but also for Clooney’s recent op-ed urging U.S. President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid.

Clooney’s career montage in “Jay Kelly” surprised him with its use of his own films, highlighting his extensive and varied filmography. there is a line in this film, ‘All my memories are movies.’ that is not true with me. But my memories of movies are not the scenes or the movie. it is the experience, Clooney reflected.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)