'Faust' wins

Russian director Aleksander Sokurov's "Faust" took the top honors at the Venice Film Festival. The Golden Lion prize was awarded on Saturday for Sokurov's retelling of the 16th century German folktale over the 22 other films in contention in Venice.

The film was the fourth and final installment of Sokurov's look at the relationship between men and power that began with "Moloch" in 1999 about Hitler, "Taurus" about Lenin followed a year later, and in 2005 "The Sun" which was about Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

"There are films which make you dream, which make you cry, laugh and think, and there are films which change your life forever. This is one of those films," jury head Darren Aronofsky, said.

The director made an impassioned appeal to raise the profile of culture in the eyes of government.

"Culture is not a luxury! It is the basis for the development of the society," he said, adding that he'd brought the point up in a phone call with Vladimir Putin after winning the prize.

"German culture is a fundamental one in Europe," the director said. Working with the German cast was one of the most impressive experiences he'd had in years, he told the press, still questioning if a German director would have been better suited to the task.

The Silver Lion went to Beijing director Shangjun Cai for "People Mountain People Sea" a film censured in China for depicting the harsh conditions of working in a Chinese mine.

The Best Actor laurels went to Michael Fassbender for his portrayal, in Steve McQueen's "Shame," of a sex-addict in Manhattan, while Deanie Ip won the award for Best Actress in the role of an aging domestic servant in Ann Hui's "A Simple Life."

Themes of immigration and the harrowing voyages of refugees as well as the tsunami in Japan were also present in films presented this year.

Author: Stuart Tiffen (AP, AFP)

Editor: Sean Sinico