Luca Guadagnino’s documentary “Joie de Vivre” premieres at Venice and explores the life and career of filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci through an epic, several-hours-long structure. Reviewers describe it as both expansive and immersive, built around long-form discussion, archival material, and reflections on Bertolucci’s influence.
Across outlets, the film is presented as a detailed chronicle of a complicated career, featuring interviews and conversation with prominent filmmakers and actors. The Hollywood Reporter highlights responses from directors such as Martin Scorsese, James Gray, Alfonso Cuarón, and David Cronenberg, alongside actors Debra Winger and Margot Robbie. IndieWire similarly emphasizes the documentary’s fascination and pacing, while also questioning specific inclusions and omissions, pointing to the absence of discussion around Bertolucci’s “The Dreamers.”
Both reviews agree the film offers substantial material for viewers, but they differ in emphasis: one frames it as a feast of cinema history, while the other focuses more on what the documentary chooses not to cover and how that shapes the overall portrait.
