May el-Toukhy’s film Woman Unknown has been awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival, making the Egyptian-Danish director the eighth woman in the event’s 77-year history to receive the honor. The ceremony also recognized the documentary NAZA, which focuses on Gaza, with the special jury prize.
Set against the backdrop of Denmark’s liberation from Nazi occupation, Woman Unknown follows a young housemaid named Marie, portrayed by Mathilde Arcel. As she prepares to marry her widowed employer, Marie fears he will uncover a hidden aspect of her past: during the war, she had an intimate relationship with a German soldier.
Additionally, Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love was among the films honored at the festival, alongside the Guardian-produced documentary detailing Israeli intelligence operations.
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