Ang Lee's gay film wins Venice Golden Lion
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-11 08:45

Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain," a tale of homosexual love in the wilds of Wyoming, won Venice's Golden Lion on Saturday, beating film festival favorite George Clooney in the race to take the top prize, Reuters reported.

The latest film by the director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is adapted from a short story by Annie Proulx and stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as love-struck cowboys whose forbidden affair begins in 1963 and ends 20 years later.

Ang Lee holds the Golden Lion at the Cinema Palace in Venice September 10, 2005. Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain", a tale of homosexual love in the wilds of Wyoming, won Venice's Golden Lion on Saturday, beating film festival favourite George Clooney in the race to take the top prize. [Reuters]

Lee describes "Brokeback Mountain" as a story of love against adversity. Independent and low-budget, like several U.S. entries at the festival, it was filmed in Canada to save money.

Critics had predicted Clooney's black-and-white McCarthy-era tale of broadcasting courage, "Good Night. And, Good Luck," would win the Golden Lion, beating the 19 other films in the main competition.

Clooney, adored in Venice, did not go home empty-handed, winning an award for best screenplay while his star David Strathairn won the best actor prize for his intense portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow.

Co-stars Heath Ledger (L) and Jake Gyllenhaal at a news conference for "Brokeback Mountain" at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on September 10, 2005. The movie portrays the story two young men, a Wyoming ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who after meeting in the summer of 1963 form a life-long bond. [Reuters]

Italy also took home a consolation prize thanks to Giovanna Mezzogiorno winning the best actress award for her role in Cristina Comencini's "La Bestia nel Cuore" ("Don't Tell"), a moving tale of adult siblings scarred by child abuse.

She beat France's Isabelle Huppert, a frontrunner for her role in the emotionally intense "Gabrielle," and Gwyneth Paltrow, a contender for her performance as the daughter of a mentally unstable mathematician in John Madden's "Proof."

Huppert was instead given a special Lion for her "outstanding contribution to cinema."

Ang Lee holds the Golden Lion for his gay cowboy film "Brokeback Mountain" at the Cinema Palace in Venice September 10, 2005.[Xinhua]

U.S. director Abel Ferrara won the Jury Grand Prix for "Mary," starring Juliette Binoche as an actress haunted by the figure of Mary Magdalene after having played her on screen.

Ferrara told reporters this week that his film was possible thanks to the interest in religion generated by Mel Gibson, who struck gold with the ultra-realist "The Passion of Christ."

France's Philippe Garrel won the Silver Lion prize for best director with his "Les Amants Reguliers" ("Regular Lovers"), an austere story of love in bohemian Paris after the May 1968 riots.

The three-hour film, which also won a prize for its photography, was well received by critics but little appreciated by the public at the Lido.

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