BEIJING, Sept. 8-- James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, John Turturro and the Coen Brothers waltzed their way onto the Lido on Tuesday for the premiere of the bawdy musical"Romance& Cigarettes."

Director Turturro's movie was the second U.S. title to unspool in Venice in competition.

One of the largest entourages to arrive yet provided ample opportunity for a packed news conference to quiz the filmmaker and stars. But the event was largely dominated by questions fired to Sarandon about her views on Hollywood and politics.

Sarandon joshed that the only way to end your career in Hollywood was to get"old and fat." She said Hollywood wasn't really a"political entity that is going to evolve in some way." She also said it was a pity that men got paid more than women to be in movies but added that many of the roles did not appeal to her.

The movie script, described by producers Joel and Ethan Coen as"sufficiently demented" to bring them on board, trades in foulmouthed dialogue and lewd sexual references.

"Dirty language of a certain kind is a certain art and everything can't be sweet," said Turturro, who penned the project in addition to directing it."We made a list of interesting expressions and as long as it is humorous it is fun."

Tuesday saw the first Italian movie unspool in competition as Roberto Faenza's"I Giorni dell'Abbandono" hit the screen. Both Cristina Comencini's"La Bestia Nel Cuore" and Pupi Avati's"La Seconda Notte di Nozze" will vie for the jury's attention as Saturday's awards ceremony approaches.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)