Venice hails comeback king Rourke

11 DAYS of red carpet galas, 21 films in competition and countless interviews, photo calls and parties at the Venice film festival boiled down to just one man in the end — Mickey Rourke.

The festival, which unofficially kick-starts the lead up to the Oscars, will be remembered for Rourke’s performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, which the actor and critics agree is his best yet.

The movie, about an ageing wrestler who despairs as his body gives up on him and friends and family turn their backs, won the coveted Golden Lion award for best movie on Saturday.