Nicole Kidman
© AFP/File Mark RalstonROME (AFP) - Subtitled "An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus," the film is expected to make waves with its departure from biographical fact and the sheer originality of director Steven Shainberg's approach to the life of the controversial photographer of people on the edge of society.
Kidman, the 39-year-old Oscar-winning star of "The Hours" and "Moulin Rouge", will be on hand for the gala opening of the festival, which runs until October 21.
In "Fur," she portrays the eccentric, highly original and influential Arbus, who committed suicide at age 48 in 1971, in a personal and professional journey imagined by Patricia Bosworth in her best-selling biography of the photographer. The author co-produced the film.
"Fur" uses an imagined relationship with a neighbor who could be one of her subjects -- his entire body is covered with hair because of a genetic disorder -- to chronicle Arbus's escape from the confines of her wealthy Jewish family and later her marriage and motherhood and development into an important artist.
The film was panned after a screening at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado: Hollywood Reporter's Anne Thompson dismissed its chances at next year's Academy Awards, Variety magazine said it has "far more metaphysical weight than dramatic force" and US film critic Emanuel Levy dubbed it "an honorable failure."
But the Rome festival judges may give the lie to these pronouncements, especially since the 50-strong jury has been drawn from ordinary moviegoers, presided over by veteran director Ettore Scola.
They will award prizes for Best Film, which carries a cash award of 200,000 euros), as well as Best Actor and Best Actress.
The Rome event has already drawn criticism for coming hard on the heels of last month's Mostra in Venice.
Kidman found herself at the center of a war of words between the organizers of the world's oldest and newest film festivals after the Rome lineup was announced ahead of the September event, apparently breaking an agreement between the two cities.
Mostra director Marco Mueller voiced what appeared to be sour grapes, telling reporters: "I've got no fear of the Rome Cinemafest because they are only screening films that neither Cannes nor Venice wanted."
Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni called the remark "an incredible offense to the filmmakers who are showing their work in Rome."
Kidman, who was the headline star at the Venice festival in 2004, said in a carefully worded statement: "I love Italy, and I feel great affinity with it. I am especially proud to be christening this important event (in Rome)."
The festival will be held in 20 locations across Rome, from the new Auditorium Music Park to the city's Piazza del Popolo and even the Trevi Fountain, famously featured in Federico Fellini's 1960 film "La Dolce Vita".
Veltroni said the festival would rely solely on private sponsors for its budget of at least 10 million euros (12.5 million dollars).
©AFP