First look images for Flesh Impact, Maggie Gyllenhaal's Marilyn Monroe centennial short film, were unveiled on July 28. The 17-minute film stars Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson as two distinct versions of Monroe and will have its world premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival this September.
Johnson plays Monroe at the height of her fame. Burstyn plays a version of Monroe audiences never got to see. Burstyn knew Monroe personally and moved in similar Hollywood circles, and delivers a demanding monologue as the older, unrealized version.
The title comes from Billy Wilder's phrase for Monroe's screen presence: the quality of appearing so real and luminous that audiences felt they could reach through the screen and touch her. Gyllenhaal describes the film as "very much a mixture of Marilyn and my fantasy of her."
Gyllenhaal, who previously directed Johnson in The Lost Daughter, developed the project with Genesis to mark Monroe's centennial. "I've always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe," Gyllenhaal said. "So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life." The Marilyn Monroe estate, held by Authentic Brands Group, approved the project.
The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi. It will screen as part of the ceremony in which Burstyn receives the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at Venice. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera described Burstyn as possessing "rare intensity and truth" across more than fifty years in American cinema. Gyllenhaal will serve as president of the festival's Golden Lion jury at the same edition.