Vikander and Marinelli bring Bertolucci's final screenplay to Venice

Alicia Vikander has revealed she watched her latest film, The Echo Chamber, for the first time at its world premiere during the Venice Film Festival. The actor, speaking alongside co-star Luca Marinelli, admitted to feeling the weight of the moment. "I didn't, I saw the film for the first time," she said, with Marinelli adding that he was "more nervous" for the screening than she was.

Vikander also confessed to a strict personal policy of avoiding critical reviews of her work. "I don't read them," she stated, explaining that she made the decision about five years ago to stop engaging with external opinions about her performances.

The film, directed by Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro, is a love story centred on the characters Leo and Anne, played by Marinelli and Vikander respectively. Pallaoro described his interest in the nuanced and often fragile nature of romantic relationships. He noted the "very thin boundary" that can exist between dependency, co-dependency, and intimacy, and how the lines between individual identity and a couple's identity can blur.

A significant aspect of the project is its source material; it is based on the final screenplay written by the late Bernardo Bertolucci before his death in 2018. Pallaoro spoke of his approach to honouring the legendary director's work, stating that he felt the only way to be true to the material was to let it "filter through" his own vision and cinematic language. Marinelli noted that while the audience can sense the collective love and respect for Bertolucci, Pallaoro succeeded in making the film his own.

Vikander reflected on Bertolucci's influence, admiring how his films do not attempt to explain human behaviour or provide easy answers, but instead present characters and situations for audiences to interpret themselves. She felt this quality was a strong "echo" present in their new film.

The Echo Chamber is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, which runs until 12 September. The jury is chaired by actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal.