Which film was awarded the main prize of the 76th Venice Film Festival?

"Joker" is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker. "Joker" provides a possible origin story for the character; set in 1981, it follows Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian whose descent into insanity and nihilism inspires a violent countercultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying Gotham City.

"Joker" premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it won the Golden Lion, and was released in the United States on October 4, 2019. The film received generally positive reviews, but was also highly polarizing; while Phoenix's performance, Phillips' direction, and Hildur Guðnadóttir's musical score received high marks, the dark tone, portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided responses.