Julia Roberts has defended her new film After the Hunt from criticism that it revives anti-feminist arguments, saying the story is intended to spark dialogue at a time when "humanity is losing the art of conversation."
The Oscar-winning actor is making her Venice film festival debut with Luca Guadagnino's psychological thriller, which premiered out of competition on Friday. Set in a university, the drama follows Roberts as a respected professor caught in a moral and professional dilemma when a star student, played by Ayo Edebiri, accuses her colleague (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault. The cast also features Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloe Sevigny.
At a press conference, Roberts faced questions over whether the film undermines feminist principles. "I don't think it's about reviving old arguments of women being pitted against each other," she said. "The best part is that people leave the theatre talking. That's how you realise what you believe in strongly - because we stir it all up for you."
Director Guadagnino insisted the film was not intended as a manifesto. "Everyone has their own truths," he said. "The clash of those truths is what interests us as film-makers."
Roberts also defended playing a conflicted character. "Trouble is where the juicy stuff is," she joked. Edebiri agreed: "That's how you grow. That's the type of movie I enjoy watching."
Reflecting on the project, Roberts compared it to the naturalistic storytelling of Tender Mercies. "It's not so much making a statement. We're just sharing these lives and hoping people talk to each other afterwards. That, to me, is the most exciting bit."
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