'Bicycle Thief' screening as well among Day 1 highlights
ROME -- The world premiere of the Coen brothers' latest and a protection to one of Italy's most seminal films volition highlight Day 1 at the Venice Film Festival, which opens Wednesday.
Joel and Ethan Coen's "Burn After Reading" -- their followup to Oscar winner "No Country for Old Men"-- opens the 65th edition of the event with a showing that will follow the festival's traditional gala possibility ceremony. Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton ar all expected to be on hand to bestow starpower to the Lido's well-worn red carpet.
Vittorio De Sica's 60-year-old classic "The Bicycle Thief" will be among the first day's other highlights. The completely refurbished print is the result of months of painstaking work piecing together parts of existing only damaged prints. It will screen with Manuel and Christian De Sica -- the director's sons -- among those in attendance.
"We're very proud of this work," Manuel De Sica said. "It will be wonderful to have this restored reading of such an important film on this full-grown screen and then available for future screenings."
The fete continues with its commencement full daytime -- including the first gear competition screenings -- on Thursday.
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