A heartfelt tribute to Ellen Burstyn at the Liberatum Pioneer Award
An emotional moment for Taylor Russell
In a touching ceremony in Venice, Taylor Russell broke down while presenting the Liberatum Pioneer Award to the legendary Ellen Burstyn. “Everyone in this room knows how incredible you are. I’ve been so affected by your life and your characters, and no, it’s not part of my speech,” Russell said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Russell, known for her role in Bones and All, starred alongside Burstyn in Niclas Larsson’s Mother, Couch. “The most exciting part was knowing I would have the opportunity to work with you,” she continued, praising every aspect of Burstyn’s unique talent. “I think about your spirituality and the way you’ve connected your heart, your truth, and your soul to your work. And that makes me think: ‘I can attempt to do that too.’”
Ellen Burstyn’s enduring legacy
Burstyn, a true icon in the world of cinema, has never taken the easy route. “This is not the woman who takes the easy route. She has never stopped searching. Ellen, by sharing the gift of your work and life with us all, you are emblazoned in our memories, lighting the path for those of us who are honored to follow in your footsteps,” Russell added.
During the Liberatum’s Women in Creativity gala, Burstyn recited Mary Oliver’s poem When Death Comes, captivating the audience with her profound delivery. She also shared insights into her career, maintaining a light-hearted tone even when discussing hardships and disappointments. “The hardest moment in my life? All three marriages weren’t very successful,” she quipped, preferring to reminisce about the most beautiful moment: “When I took my baby into my arms. I adopted my child.”
Reflecting on a storied career
Burstyn’s career is filled with memorable roles, including her performances in Resurrection by Daniel Petrie and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. “When I made Alice, I was a single mother, and the women’s movement was awakening in me. We were able to reflect all of that in the film. So many women have told me they recognize themselves in Alice, but what has surprised me is how many men were moved by what they learned about their relationships with their mothers,” she shared.
And who could forget her iconic role in The Exorcist? Despite the alleged supernatural drama on set, Burstyn fondly recalls the experience. “What was really happening there? Well, we were making a movie! And then there were all these side events that may or may not be metaphysical. It was an eventful shoot: eight months with the devil.”
Changes in the industry and personal growth
Burstyn also reflected on the changes in the industry over the years. “When I started out, there were no women producers and no women directors apart from Ida Lupino in the 1940s. It was all men, and that has changed,” she noted. At 91 years old, Burstyn remains productive, sharing her secrets to longevity. “Between 20 and 40 years old, I did everything bad. Alcohol, marijuana, fattening food, I didn’t exercise. Then, at 40, I gave up smoking. Then alcohol. Grass was the last to go,” she laughed.
Urging young actors to always “keep on growing as artists” and “study, study, study,” Burstyn revealed her desire to work with Darren Aronofsky again. “And I just turned him down! He offered me a small part in his next film, but the character spoke Yiddish. And I don’t, and I tried. I very unhappily told him he had to recast, but he hired my friend Carol Kane instead.”
The state of female-led films
Before the sit-down dinner, Maggie Li, producer of the Venice premiere Mistress Dispeller by Elizabeth Lo, discussed the situation of female-led films and female-centered stories. “I don’t think it’s enough, but I do see an improvement. Previously, I produced the documentary Ascension. It was directed by a woman and my first feature as a producer, and we went to the Oscars! You see women like Ellen or Sigourney Weaver awarded here in Venice. Female filmmakers have done so much, and they are finally getting acknowledged.”
Celebrating women in creativity
Pablo Ganguli of Liberatum emphasized the program’s focus on highlighting women who have significantly contributed to our collective consciousness. Past honorees include Nicole Kidman, Hilary Swank, Tilda Swinton, Angela Bassett, and Zaha Hadid. The gala was attended by notable figures such as Debra Granik, Diana Picasso, Angela Missoni, and German filmmaker Julia Von Heinz.
“The goal is to be empowered by their stories. Also, I’ve always felt it was an injustice that a pioneering actress and producer like Ellen Burstyn, way ahead of her time, has never been invited to Venice Film Festival. It’s an emotional moment because it’s about a woman’s story of her survival. She’s always persevered,” Ganguli stated.
As Burstyn pointed out, Venice is the perfect place to receive an award. “It’s so much better than the usual places,” she joked, recalling one of her first – and rather unfortunate – experiences in Italy back in the late 1960s. “My husband got a job in Rome. On my first day, there was a demonstration. I assumed it was for a public cause, so of course, I joined in. The next day, I found out they were fascists.”
For more information on Mother, Couch, you can watch the trailer.
This article celebrates the remarkable career of Ellen Burstyn and her impact on the film industry, highlighting her achievements and the ongoing evolution of female representation in cinema.