Every year, the Venice Film Festival brings together the most original and fascinating figures from the world of cinema — from Hollywood to India, and of course, Europe. This year marked the 82nd edition of the festival, with director Alexander Payne, known for films such as Sideways and The Descendants, serving as jury president.

For almost a year fans of A24 and especially of actors Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt had been eagerly awaiting the release of The Smashing Machine — a film about aging wrestler Mark Kerr as he faces life’s challenges and personal struggles.

Have you noticed how, when you’re abroad, you become a completely different person? And no, it’s not about a relaxed vacation mood. This transformation phenomenon even has a scientific name — travel self-expansion, or the expansion of one’s self through travel.

Some duos in the world of cinema are immortal — and, even more surprisingly, always relevant. No matter the decade, Brad Pitt and David Fincher have continued to amaze fans, starting with Se7en in 1995, when the actor and director first met and created a massive thriller hit, followed by Fight Club in 1999.

Travel isn’t just about rest and new impressions; it’s also an opportunity to improve brain function. Modern research shows that trips stimulate brain development and help people become more energetic and goal-oriented.

Vasya was running happily down the street. The puddles seemed light and invisible, the sun shone brighter than ever, and the gentle spring breeze brushed against his face, making everything around him feel freer and more delightful. Suddenly, Vasya slipped on a puddle and fell onto the asphalt, scraping his right knee.

By keenly observing human behavior, studying various psychological concepts and approaches, and testing them first on myself, I have formulated for myself a few postulates that make life easier and stop me from swimming upstream against its current. I’m not saying that everyone should live exactly by these rules – it’s important to pick or create your own personal ones. Yes, that’s possible!

The year begins with winter. A faint, barely-breathing feeling that something is rising from the earth — something already lives, while something else is only awakening, only being born into this world through the heavy layers of ice and cold.

Wittingly or unwittingly, to a greater or lesser extent, openly or secretly from ourselves, we take offense at people, most often at those who are close to us, those who are in some way important to us.

Many years ago, in 1975, Yuri Norstein and Sergei Kozlov released a short animated film based on Kozlov’s short story Hedgehog in the Fog. The film runs for only about 11 minutes and tells the story of the Hedgehog’s adventure — or rather, his long and difficult journey through the fog on his way to meet his friend the Bear Cub in the forest. Along the way, the Hedgehog loses his jar of jam, but eventually finds himself.