Safdie wins Venice Best Director for The Smashing Machine

Dwayne The Rock Johnson drew sustained applause at the Venice International Film Festival on Monday as his new film The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic of early MMA figure Mark Kerr, premiered to rave reviews and a lengthy standing ovation. Director Benny Safdie, whose film focuses on Kerr’s rise and struggles inside and outside the ring, was awarded the festival’s Silver Lion for Best Director, an honor that cast a spotlight on Johnson’s dramatic turn and added momentum to the film’s awards-season prospects.

Written and directed by Benn y Safdie and inspired by a 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, The Smashing Machine chronicles three turbulent years in Kerr’s life, including his ascent in mixed martial arts, his tempestuous relationship with Dawn Staples, and his battle with painkiller addiction. Emily Blunt co-stars as Staples, while former MMA heavyweight Ryan Bader appears as Mark Coleman. Critics at Venice praised the film’s unflinching fight scenes and its sensitive handling of addiction, and festival audiences reportedly greeted the screening with about 15 minutes of standing ovation.

Safdie used his acceptance speech to single out Johnson, telling the assembled...