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Olivia Wilde brought “The Invite” to Locarno.
“I’m in shock. This is overwhelming and exciting,” she told the audience at Piazza Grande, which reportedly has one of the world’s largest cinema screens.
“This is the European
premiere of ‘The Invite’ and it’s the first time – and probably the only time – it will be seen on a screen this big. I can’t tell you how much this means. I’m so grateful that you came tonight.”
Youn can watch the video here:
Earlier that day, Wilde had admitted that she had fought for the film to be released theatrically.
“I have the benefit of hearing from audiences and hearing how cathartic they have found it to laugh at some of these things and to laugh with strangers,” she said during a press conference at the fest.
“If you don’t fight for it, they ‘bribe’ you to not take theatrical. But we were really lucky that our financier gave me the opportunity to make this decision, which is something I don’t take lightly.”
The gamble paid off – Variety reported that “The Invite” has become a “rare hit summer comedy.” Owen Gleiberman praised the film in his review, calling it a “bravura dinner-party dramedy that’s like ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ redone as vintage Woody Allen.”
Wilde also said the film was a “love letter to so many of the filmmakers that made us want to do this. People like Cassavetes, Mike Nichols, Mazursky, Woody Allen, Billy Wilder, Nora Ephron and Agnès Varda.”
“They introduced us to the idea of independent cinema allowing for real vulnerability.”
It stars Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton as two couples who meet for a dinner party, only for one relationship to implode.
“This film is the most incredible experience of my life because it was the most collaborative project,” she noted.
“It was workshopped by the cast and our incredible screenwriters, and it’s a remake of an extraordinary Spanish film [‘Sentimental’], which was also interpreted as Swiss-German, French, Italian and South Korean versions. It’s an international story, and what you will watch tonight is our offering and our interpretation. It’s our attempt to be as honest with the audience as we possibly could. For me, it was the highlight of my career.”
While the story goes into some dark places, humor plays a significant role.
“First and foremost, it’s a comedy,” stated Wilde.
“Even the most tragic things in life, and the way we ultimately overcome them, is by recognizing they didn’t just happen to us. There’s something about understanding the universal experience that removes shame and allows things to be funny — and survivable.”
It might be about heartbreak, but it’s still “supposed to be a good time.”
“I hope you guys are not too hot and that you can laugh together. The most rewarding thing about this has been hearing audiences laugh together, and maybe cry. You are allowed to cry if you want to. But it is designed to be something that will bring you joy,” she said.
“I can’t tell you how much we laughed when we were making it. It was the most hilarious experience. We have to find the hilarity inside the tragic. It’s the only way.”
