Venice 2016, Day 1: Let’s Dance
It's hot, humid and gorgeous – on the brink of Fall the Lido island, the easternmost on the Venice lagoon, bordering the Adriatic Sea on its outer shore, becomes a cinema hub of major importance. The oldest film festival in existence, Venice had the ups and downs to be expected in any long career. Right now the late-Summer bash is in top form. Its intelligently curated mix of auteur offerings and major stars has been setting the tone for the Fall – prestige releases, awards season – and creating a major impact on the oh-so-important international markets. The 73rd edition began with both a wimper and a bang – its opening party cancelled in the wake of the devastating earthquake that felled Central Italy, its buzz already bursting thanks to its first film, La La Land, director Damien Chazelle's valentine to jazz, Los Angeles and European-style musicals from the 1960s.