George Clooney traded his usual acting spotlight for a photographer's lens on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival on Friday night. The star attended the premiere of "Furies," a Lebanese heist thriller for which he served as executive producer.
Critics at the festival have offered favorable reviews for "Furies," describing the film as riveting and high-action. The movie's plot centers on two sisters who devise a plan to rob a bank to recover their frozen savings from corrupt financial institutions, a narrative set against the backdrop of Beirut's economic collapse. The film is directed by Rami Kodeih and stars Rym Mroue and Maria Nakouzi in the lead roles.
Reviewers from publications like The Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire have highlighted the film's energetic filmmaking and the strong on-screen chemistry between Mroue and Nakouzi. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the movie "infuses a time-tested genre with the unpredictable energy of real people interacting." IndieWire described the filmmaking as "kinetic and alive."
Clooney, who arrived in Venice with his wife Amal, received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Award on the festival's opening day. He has been a regular at the Venice Film Festival for nearly three decades, with his first appearance dating back to "Out of Sight." The festival has hosted significant moments in his career, including the debut of "Good Night, and Good Luck," which earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, and his wedding.
During his acceptance speech for the Golden Lion, Clooney paid tribute to his wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer. He lauded her work, noting her success in taking legal action against ISIS. Clooney also touched upon their family life, mentioning their two children and the balance between their public and private lives.
"Furies" is set to be screened in TIFF's Centrepiece program following its Venice premiere. 
