Venice premiere charts Russell Crowe's lifelong love of music

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe unveiled a deeply personal documentary at the Venice Film Festival, exploring his lifelong love of music and its intertwining with his acting career. Titled "What Love Builds", the film delves into Crowe's relationship with music through performances, archive footage, and personal insights, seeking to answer whether he prefers music or acting.

Crowe explained that the two creative outlets are completely intertwined for him, stating, "There is no difference. Everything comes from the same creative source."

The New Zealand-born star, who won an Academy Award for "Gladiator" in 2001, began working on the project 15 years ago, initially expecting it to take a year. However, as new musical projects emerged, Crowe continued filming and amassed "an excessive" 18 million feet of footage. Despite mismanaging his relationship with Hollywood, Crowe emphasized that he does things based on how they make him feel, never having a predetermined plan. He shared that he only takes on roles that resonate with him emotionally.

Crowe's musical background has given him a unique understanding of audiences, which he carries into his acting. "Everything that I do as a film actor is informed because I know how to drive an audience live," he explained. As he looks ahead, Crowe reflected on his time remaining, acknowledging that he is starting to consider how many summers he may have left.

While he listed several upcoming projects, including new film and television roles, Crowe emphasized the importance of spending more time with his sons in Europe. He jokingly referred to this as the "Euro Dad project" and announced that Indoor Garden Party would embark on a major tour of eastern Europe in 2027. The documentary "What Love Builds" is currently running at the Venice Film Festival, concluding on Saturday.