'Wild Horse Nine' Sparks 13-Minute Ovation At Venice Film Festival

Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine’ received an astonishing 13-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival world premiere, strengthening its Oscar prospects. John Malkovich, who stars alongside Sam Rockwell, became emotional during the lengthy applause, while McDonagh appeared visibly touched by the reception. McDonagh and Rockwell later stepped into the crowd to shake hands and sign autographs as the cheering persisted. Set in 1973, the movie follows two CIA officers dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island ahead of Chile’s military coup against Salvador Allende. The audience also applauded twice during the screening, including when Malkovich’s character expressed a desire to visit Venice. ‘Wild Horse Nine’ marks McDonagh’s third consecutive feature to premiere at Venice, following ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin.’ ‘Three Billboards’ won Venice’s screenplay prize and seven Oscar nods, while ‘Banshees’ earned nine nominations and major festival honors.