Danny Boyle's Murdoch drama joins migration themes at Venice Festival

At the 2026 Venice Film Festival, Danny Boyle’s “Ink” examines how Rupert Murdoch and editor Larry Lamb helped transform British newspapers through sensationalism and increasingly aggressive departures from journalistic norms. A review of Paul Schrader’s philosophy-centered drama “The Basics of Philosophy” found its exploration of guilt, abuse and moral responsibility undermined by ambiguity, uneven pacing and a soap-opera-like final act. Italian actor Valeria Golino said films such as Gianni Amelio’s “Nessun dolore” and Roberto De Paolis’s “Serpenti” can turn issues including domestic violence and clandestine immigration into broader artistic and moral inquiries. Amelio used the festival to call for coordinated European migration policies, while actor Alessandro Borghi said “Nessun dolore” challenges audiences to examine responsibility, guilt and empathy; Giacomo Poretti separately defended the value of happy endings.