The 83rd Venice Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday with a ceremony that crowned May el-Toukhy's Woman Unknown as the winner of the Golden Lion, the festival's top prize. The Danish director's film, set in Copenhagen in the immediate aftermath of the Nazi occupation, tells the story of Marie, a young nanny and housekeeper who marries her wealthy, older widower employer. But Marie harbours a secret that threatens to unravel her new life: a past intimate relationship with a German soldier.
El-Toukhy, who was the only woman to have sole directing credit in this year's main competition, dedicated the award to her cast and crew, and to the resilience of women who carry hidden histories. The film's star, Mathilde Arcel, was visibly moved as she accepted the Best Actress prize, placing the trophy on the floor while she spoke. “This is my first lead role in a movie and my first time at a film festival,” she said. “I'm extremely honoured.”
A rare double victory for Danish cinema
The Golden Lion and Best Actress double is a rare feat, and it marks a significant moment for Scandinavian cinema on the world stage. Woman Unknown had been one of the most talked-about entries in the competition, praised for its nuanced portrayal of a woman navigating the moral ambiguities of postwar Europe. The film's exploration of class, gender, and national guilt resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.
South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong returned to Venice after an eight-year absence with Possible Love, a poetic meditation on class and labour that earned the Silver Lion grand jury prize. Lee, whose 2018 film Burning was a critical sensation, dedicated the award to the workers whose stories inspired the film.
The special jury prize went to NAZA, a harrowing documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor that examines military strategies used in the war in Gaza. Shot in extreme secrecy on the rooftops of Tel Aviv over three years, the film features testimony from 24 Israeli military insiders, including intelligence officers and soldiers, who speak about what they describe as the systemic killing of Palestinian civilians. The film was added to the competition late at the filmmakers' request and premiered to a record-breaking standing ovation that lasted some 25 minutes. Abraham said, “It is really, really especially important to us that Israelis watch this film.”
Ilya Krzhanovsky, who renounced his Russian citizenship in protest against the war in Ukraine, received the Silver Lion for directing for Dau, a monumental project about Soviet physicists who built the atomic bomb, which took over 20 years to complete. He dedicated the prize to Ukrainians, including his mother, who was born there.
The jury, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, also honoured John Malkovich with the Best Actor prize for his performance in Martin McDonagh's dark CIA comedy Wild Horse Nine. Malkovich, unable to attend due to filming in Montreal, sent a video message: “I am humbled to be chosen for this award which has been given to so many wonderful actors.” The film, which follows two CIA agents on Easter Island just before Chile's 1973 military coup, received a standing ovation lasting more than ten minutes.
French director Stéphane Brizé won the screenplay prize for his corporate drama A Good Little Soldier, while Malou Khebizi received the Marcello Mastroianni award for emerging actor for her role in Cédric Kahn's 15/18 (A Place to Heal), set in an adolescent psychiatric ward in a public hospital.
The festival, which has long been a barometer for European and global cinema, also saw the historic pageantry of the Regata Storica along the Grand Canal, a reminder of Venice's enduring cultural significance. As the awards were announced, the Lido's historic hotels are experiencing a quiet luxury revival, drawing filmgoers and travellers alike.
With Woman Unknown now holding the Golden Lion, May el-Toukhy joins a distinguished lineage of European filmmakers who have used Venice to launch their work onto the world stage. Her film, a deeply European story about the scars of war and the price of ambition, is likely to be a major contender in the upcoming awards season.
