Venice 2025 Non-Fiction Highlights: Ross McElwee, Lucrecia Martel, and Alexandre O. Philippe
The Venice Film Festival 2025 showcased a remarkable non-fiction program, with powerful works by Werner Herzog, Laura Poitras, Ross McElwee, Lucrecia Martel, and Alexandre O. Philippe. Unlike traditional documentaries relying on talking heads, the festival’s lineup emphasized films deeply shaped by their creators’ personal voices and artistic visions.
Ross McElwee’s “Remake”
Veteran filmmaker Ross McElwee, known for Sherman’s March and Photographic Memory, returned with the deeply personal “Remake.” The film explores his attempt to adapt his earlier work while grappling with the tragic loss of his son, Adrian, who struggled with addiction and depression. McElwee weaves decades of footage into a narrative that feels like a cinematic eulogy, addressing his son directly in moments of raw vulnerability. Rather than over-explaining, McElwee lets pauses, silences, and uncertainty convey the film’s emotional power.
Lucrecia Martel’s “Nuestra Tierra”
Argentinian director Lucrecia Martel, celebrated for Zama, presented “Nuestra Tierra” (also known as Landmarks or Chocobar), a haunting work blending courtroom drama, history, and colonization commentary. The film focuses on the Chuchagasta indigenous community in northwest Argentina and the killing of Javier Chocobar in 2009 during a land conflict. With drone imagery capturing the stunning landscapes and courtroom testimonies revealing corruption and violence, Martel reclaims a story of erased voices while questioning whether cameras can capture truth.
Alexandre O. Philippe’s “Kim Novak’s Vertigo”
Known for 78/52 and Lynch/Oz, filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe shifts focus from directors to actors in “Kim Novak’s Vertigo.” This intimate documentary highlights Kim Novak’s craft and her perspective on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Vertigo. With grace and respect, Philippe lets Novak reflect on her acting process, emphasizing her philosophy of reacting, not acting. The film reframes Vertigo not only as Hitchcock’s masterpiece but also as Novak’s defining artistic achievement.
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A Festival of Personal Vision
The Venice 2025 documentary lineup demonstrates the festival’s commitment to bold, personal storytelling. Whether it’s McElwee confronting grief, Martel exploring historical erasure, or Philippe honoring an iconic performer, these works remind audiences that non-fiction cinema can be as artistic, emotional, and transformative as any form of storytelling.
