At the recent Venice Film Festival, Julia Roberts passionately defended her latest film, After the Hunt, during a press conference that ignited heated discussions about the film’s themes related to the MeToo movement and cancel culture. The thriller, which explores the dynamics within the realm of higher education, features Roberts as a beloved college professor who faces a significant personal and professional dilemma when her mentee, played by Ayo Edebiri, accuses a friend and colleague, Andrew Garfield, of inappropriate behavior.
During the press conference, a journalist posed a provocative question about whether After the Hunt undermines the feminist movement. This inquiry came in light of the controversy it stirred among festival attendees, who felt the film rekindles longstanding debates about believing women who come forward with sexual assault allegations. While Roberts did not directly answer the question, she emphasized her desire for the film to spark challenging conversations. “Not to be disagreeable, because it’s not in my nature,” she remarked with a laugh, “but the thing you said that I love is it ‘revives old arguments.’” She continued, “There are a lot of old arguments that get rejuvenated that create conversation.”
Roberts further elaborated on her vision for the film, stating, “The best part of your question is that you all came out of the theater talking about it. That’s how we wanted it to feel. You realize what you believe in strongly because we stir it all up for you. So, you’re welcome.” When pressed again about the film's potential for controversy, Roberts reiterated that the intention was not to provoke but to encourage dialogue. “We’re not making statements; we are portraying these people in this moment in time,” she explained. “To be excited or infuriated about it is up to you. If making this movie does anything, getting everybody to talk to each other is the most exciting thing that I think we could accomplish.”
Director Luca Guadagnino also shared his perspective on the film, describing it as an exploration of “people in their truths.” He noted, “It’s not that one truth is most important; it’s how we see the clash of truths and what is the boundary of these truths together. It’s not about making a manifesto to revive old-fashioned values.” This emphasis on the complexity of truth reflects the film’s ambition to address contemporary societal issues without simplifying them.
After the Hunt is screening out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, which is abuzz with premieres from renowned filmmakers, including Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone with their conspiracy thriller Bugonia, George Clooney and Adam Sandler in the road-trip dramedy Jay Kelly, and Kathryn Bigelow’s The House of Dynamite, among others. Guadagnino has a rich history with the festival, having previously premiered acclaimed works like Bones and All and A Bigger Splash.
Roberts, Garfield, and Edebiri are making their Venice Film Festival debut with After the Hunt, which is set to premiere on Friday evening. In a rare lighthearted moment during the otherwise intense press conference, Roberts playfully instructed her co-stars to simultaneously open their cans of water, quipping that she wanted to avoid any disruptions while discussing the “incredible things” they were about to say. Garfield humorously added, “It was like that every day on set. When her can had to be opened, everyone’s had to be opened. That’s the microcosm of Julia Roberts.”
