Casey Affleck and Nick Nolte Get Emotional as ‘Company’ Debuts in Venice

Affleck and star Nick Nolte looked visibly moved as cast members including Indiana Affleck, Emily Alyn Lind, Scoot McNairy, Adelaide Clemens and Caylee Cowan cheered from the audience. Written and directed by Casey Affleck, the movie takes place in 1975 and follows a mysterious woman named Evelyn who arrives uninvited at a holiday gathering to tell the story of Tom, an aging hermit who rescues a stranded actress during a Colorado blizzard more than 20 years earlier. Per the synopsis, “As the stories intertwine across generations, ‘Company’ becomes a meditation on grief, vengeance, forgiveness and the quiet acts of compassion that can heal even the deepest wounds.” The cast includes Nolte, Ben Mendelsohn, McNairy and Clemens.

The film introduces Affleck’s son Atticus on screen for the first time and marks the second feature for Indiana Affleck. Affleck won an Academy Award for 2016’s “Manchester by the Sea” and was nominated for “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.” “Company” is the third movie he has directed following 2019’s post-apocalyptic drama “Light of My Life” and 2010’s mockumentary “I’m Still Here,” starring Joaquin Phoenix. He was accused by two women who worked on “I’m Still Here” of sexual harassment, verbal abuse and fostering a toxic work environment.

Affleck has denied the accusations, and civil lawsuits were settled out of court. His career has mostly stalled since those allegations resurfaced around the time Affleck was on the campaign trail for “Manchester by the Sea,” though he’s appeared in several indies as well as Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” His older brother Ben’s company Artist Equity produced “Company,” which is seeking distribution.