Venice Film Festival Lauds Gibson’s ‘Hacksaw Ridge’

Good films are getting harder and harder to come by these days so it will be interesting to see if this one delivers. 

Via Truth Revolt

After a 10-year absence, Mel Gibson’s directorial talent will be returning this November with the WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge, and as the 10-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival indicates, Gibson’s filmmaking talent now burns brighter than ever.

From Deadline:

After wowing critics at early morning press screenings on Sunday, Mel Gibson’s pacifist World War II action drama, Hacksaw Ridge, had its red carpet world premiere out of competition at the Venice Film Festival last night. The film played to a roughly 10-minute standing ovation — long standing-Os are not as common a happenstance on the Lido as they are at some other festivals.

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This is the first film Gibson has directed in a decade and last night at the gala premiere, he and the actors were ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘very truly speechless,’ I’m told by a person close to the gang. A private dinner followed hosted by Hacksaw‘s Italian distributors, Andrea Leone and Eagle Pictures.

Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond T. Doss, the first conscientious objector to win the medal of honor without firing a single shot. Combining faith with the horrors of war (Gibson’s trademark), the film focuses on how Doss (played by Andrew Garfield) sacrificed his own life in the service of saving life, rather than destroying it.

Gibson told the press corps he felt “inspired” by Doss as a man who “does something extraordinary and supernatural.”

“A lot of attention needs to be paid to our warriors; they need some love and understanding,” said Gibson. “I hope this film imparts that message. If it does nothing but that, that’s great.”

In an early review, The Hollywood Reporter also heaped praise upon Hacksaw Ridge, calling it a “powerful true story of heroism” that successfully explores “themes of courage, patriotism, faith and unwavering adherence to personal beliefs.”