The conversations around this movie will be totally normal. Then again, this has the potential to be a very strong movie.
Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” is almost certainly going to have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. A trailer has just been released for the film, and it tackles these explosive #MeToo era themes, and will likely spark debate upon its release.
The film, which test- screened in December, has Julia Roberts playing a Yale professor who hosts a dinner party for her colleagues and pupils. The next day, a student (Ayo Edibieri) accuses her professor (Andrew Garfield) of sexually assaulting her the night of the party. The rest of the film has Roberts navigating the situation, making sense of the accusations, and trying to figure out who the liar is, just as a dark secret from her past threatens to come to light.
The film is reported to be highly stylized, albeit not in the in-your-face way of “Challengers” and “Queer.” Guadagnino tackles hot-button topics such as rape culture, trauma and #MeToo. Roberts is said to be “incredible” in the lead role, and this comes after Guadagnino himself told Marc Maron that he believes Roberts gives the performance of her career in the film.
Nora Garrett (“Beirut”) wrote “After the Hunt,” which features an ensemble cast that includes Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Chloë Sevigny, Ayo Edibiri, and Michael Stuhlbarg. Cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed (“Lemonade”) directed the film.
The film is the latest film from Italian-born Guadagnino. He’s coming off “Challengers,” and seven of his nine films screened at Venice, with one of the only exceptions being “Call Me By Your Name” which had a very successful bow at Sundance 2017, and 2005’s “Mellissa P.” which entirely skipped festivals.
“After the Hunt” is set to hit screens on October 10 via Amazon/MGM. As mentioned, it’ll probably hit Venice in September, and probably have a fall rollout in other fests, maybe Toronto and Telluride.