Paolo Sorrentino ‘s latest feature, La Grazia , is opening the Venice Film Festival this evening.

Toni Servillo and Anna Ferzetti star in the drama about an Italian president in the final six months of his last term who faces some deep moral decisions including two potential pardons and the question of signing a bill legalizing euthanasia.

La Grazia , written and directed by Sorrentino, reteams him with longtime muse Servillo, who also starred in the filmmaker’s Oscar winner The Great Beauty .

So far, there’s largely high praise for La Grazia , which is running in competition. Here are some early reactions:

In his review, Deadline’s Pete Hammond wrote, “Clearly the current political winds in both Italy and America have got this masterful filmmaker again thinking about the

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