The Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday with Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia , preceded by a Lifetime Achievement Award for Werner Herzog accompanied by a tribute speech for the German filmmaker from from Francis Coppola.

Sorrentino’s 11th feature, La Grazia reunites the Italian director with longtime collaborator Toni Servillo, star of his 2014 Oscar-winning movie La Grande Bellezza .

The film, the storyline of which was kept under wraps until the world premiere, stars Servillo as a respected Italian president facing three key decisions – around an euthanasia bill and pardons for convicted killers – as his term in power comes to end.

Read Deadline’s review of the movie here .

“It’s a love story about family, law, high politics and taking responsibility,” Sorrentino told

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