A report from Variety, Roman Polanski’s ‘The Palace’ Sets September Release Date in Italy: Is it Headed for Venice? …
Polanski’s “The Palace” has set up an Italian release date for September 28th. Does it get any more obvious than this? It might join Woody Allen’s “Coup de Chance” at Venice.
Just picture the outrage: Polanski, Allen and Luc Besson all presenting new films on the Lido this coming September. This would certainly be a provocative statement on the part of Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera.
According to Variety’s “well-placed sources”, “The Palace” has been submitted to Venice, which runs Aug. 30-Sept. 9. But the festival’s selection committee has not seen the film yet.
Barbera won’t be afraid to program it either, if it’s good. He launched Polanski’s last one, “An Officer and A Spy,” back in 2019 where it won the Grand Jury and FIPRESCI prize.
“An Officer and A Spy” went on to receive a whopping twelve nominations for the 45th César Awards, and won Polanski the Best Director award. The film has still not been released in the United States.
Here’s the official synopsis for “The Palace”:
It’s December 31, 1999 and the luxurious The Palace Hotel is preparing for the most anticipated New Year ever. Millionaire guests from all over the world prepare to enter the New Millennium, amidst quirks, vices and extravagance. Roman Polanski gives us an absurd, black and provocative comedy.
The film has been described by Polanski “a comedy showing the naivety, hedonism, corruption and social inequity which lie at the root of the world’s current problems.”