Stefano Knuchel is bringing his two-decade exploration of Italian cartoonist Hugo Pratt to a close with the premiere of “A Longing to Be of No Use – Hugo in Venice” at the Venice Film Festival on September 12. Presented out of competition in a special screening organized jointly by La Biennale di Venezia, the International Critics’ Week, and the Giornate degli Autori, the film represents the third and final installment in Knuchel’s trilogy dedicated to Pratt’s life and work.
The new film marks a significant achievement for Knuchel, whose previous Pratt-focused works have already gained recognition at Venice. His 2009 film “Hugo in Africa” earned the Bisato d’Oro for best director in the Horizons section, while “Hugo in Argentina” screened during Venice Days in 2021. The timing of this latest premiere is particularly meaningful, as it precedes the centennial celebration of Pratt’s birth in 2027.
“Hugo in Venice” draws from previously unreleased recorded conversations between Pratt and his biographer Dominique Petitfaux, whose book of interviews inspired the film’s title. The production also includes contributions from individuals instrumental to preserving Pratt’s artistic legacy, among them Patrizia Zanotti from Cong SA and writer Marco Steiner, who collaborated with Pratt during his final years. The film is produced by Fiumi Film in partnership with Swiss public broadcaster RSI.
Originally reported by Variety →
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