When it comes to film festivals, one of the oldest and most respected takes place in an Italian city steeped in art, and tradition. The 71st Venice Film Festival opened on Sunday, the most venerable event on the circuit, older than Cannes and Berlin. Two films that are being promoted at Venice are "Hungry Heart" and "3 Hearts."

"Hungry Heart," was promoting the dark relationship drama at the Venice Film Festival.

Adam Driver, star of "Hungry Heart," was promoting the dark relationship drama at the Venice Film Festival. The film is directed by Saverio Costanzo and tells the story of a couple living in New York who are expecting their first child. During pregnancy the mother starts to act strangely which worsens into a full blown mental illness by the time the child is born and a rift between the couple follows.

"They basically both become very protective in completely opposite ways. Their parenting techniques don't always align," 'Hungry Heart' actor Adam Driver said.

One of the biggest challenges of the film was working with a six-month-old baby.

"Everyone was very worried about the baby to the point where no one was acting at all. It was all 'Is the baby eating? Shall we put it on the bed?' Is it going to fall off?" Adam Driver said.

Another film that was promoted at the film festival was the French love triangle melodrama "3 Hearts," starring Chiara Mastroianni and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The two play a pair of sisters who fall in love with the same man under completely different circumstances. Directed by Benoit Jacquot, the film takes the sisters on a journey of love and separation. Gainsbourg talks about love at first sight.

"You don't need much to understand what you want, what you need, what's obvious. But I don't think it happens just in an instant, it's not a glimpse they spend a whole night together, they talk," 3 Heart actress Charlotte Gainsbourg said.

Mastroianni was attracted to the ambiguity of her character Sophie.

"I liked the fact that I was playing a character that is very shy but very sensitive. She's always worried and she always thinks that she's never going to be able to manage with stuff and then when something really huge happens we don't know if she's aware of it or not," '3 Heart' actress Chiara Mastroianni said.

"3 Hearts" is showing in-competition at the film festival - one of twenty films competing for the top prize - The Golden Lion. The Venice Film Festival draws to a close on Saturday, September 6th.

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