Brangelina reunites? Exes navigate the Venice Film Festival separately

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had the premieres of their films at the ongoing Venice International Film Festival. The actors have not been a couple since 2016 and have been engaged in a film-related battle for years. Did they meet on the Lido?

Brangelina, the marriage of Jolie and Pitt, sparked great emotions in the press and among fans for years. When the actors officially announced their relationship (they fell in love on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"), the media went crazy. Angelina Jolie was seen as a heartbreaker and the woman who broke up Pitt’s relationship with America's sweetheart, Jennifer Aniston. Many thought the fiery romance would quickly fizzle out, but the couple had three biological and three adopted children. However, their happy saga ended eight years ago when the actress filed for divorce. Since then, the pair have been accusing each other and fighting over the custody of their children (though the children seem to side with their mother unanimously. Shiloh even filed a petition to change her name from Jolie-Pitt to Jolie legally).

Considering the tense atmosphere between the former spouses, it is no surprise they did not want to meet during this year’s festival in Venice. The event organizers had to keep this in mind, scheduling their film premieres at appropriate intervals. Alberto Barbera, the festival’s artistic director, told Vanity Fair in an interview that “There is no way that they can cross each other at the Lido.” (Lido is a small island, about an 11-minute boat ride from St. Mark’s Square in Venice, where one of the major film events takes place).

Angelina Jolie arrived in Venice on Thursday to attend a press conference and the premiere of "Maria" by Pablo Larraín, in which she portrays Maria Callas. The Chilean director’s film gives her a chance for a grand comeback to the screen after a long break, making her a strong candidate for next year’s Oscar nominations. The actress did not hide that this was a critical moment, and a 7-minute ovation after the first official screening brought her to tears. Jolie impressed with her elegant beauty and smiled for photos with fans. This day belonged to her.

The actress did not stay in Italy for long. By Saturday afternoon, she was at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, where she participated in a Q&A. After she visits Europe, there is much talk about her being accompanied by the well-known rapper Akala. The press is wondering whether he is the new love interest of the American actress. She has not commented on this matter, and at the press conference on Lido, she answered journalists' questions very cautiously. Indeed, her response to the question about her grand return to the world of cinema deserves attention. She admitted she needed to be at home with my family over the past years. She added that playing Maria Callas was therapeutic for her in a way she didn’t realize she needed. Besides, she took the role because “I think when you have felt a certain level of despair, of pain, of love at a certain point, there are only certain sounds that can match that feeling and to me the immensity of the feeling encapsulated in the sounds of opera – there is nothing like it.”

Meanwhile, Brad Pitt arrived in Venice on Saturday, and the premiere of "Wolfs" took place on Sunday. Along with George Clooney, they put on quite a show on Lido, interacting with the crowd, laughing with photographers, and dancing on the red carpet. Pitt came to Italy with his new partner Ines de Ramon (she was previously married to Paul Wesley of "The Vampire Diaries"). They posed for photos together, but it was Pitt’s interactions with the “Ocean’s 11” star that have been heating up social media for days. If the plan was to draw fans’ attention, it certainly succeeded and somewhat overshadowed Angelina Jolie. At the press conference, Pitt was quite reserved, and Clooney took on the task of talking to journalists and promoting the film. Both laughed that in "Wolfs" they could “beat each other up,” and Pitt emphasized that with age, he appreciates working with people he knows well even more.

The former spouses concluded their visits to Venice without significant incidents. They will not run into each other due to other professional obligations. Besides, "Wolfs" is in the out-of-competition section, and Pitt’s presence at the closing gala is not required. On the other hand, Angelina Jolie is a strong contender for an acting award. Nevertheless, we cannot expect her in Lido on September 7th, during the festival’s closing, as she will be in Toronto. That’s where the film "Without Blood" premiere starring Salma Hayek, which Jolie directed, will take place. The actors have managed to avoid each other splendidly.