South Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s ‘Pieta’ wins the Golden Lion for best film at Venice

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Director KIM ki-duk poses with the Golden Lion he won for his movie \'Pieta\' at the awards photo call during the 69th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

VENICE, Italy – South Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s shocking drama “Pieta” has won the Golden Lion for best film at the 69th Venice Film Festival.

The Silver Lion for best director went to Paul Thomas Anderson for “The Master,” inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The film’s stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman, shared the prize for best actor during the ceremony Saturday.

The best actress award went to Israeli actress Hadas Yaron, for her role in “Fill the Void.”

“Pieta” follows a young loan shark as he goes about his business maiming debtors to collect insurance money. His ruthless course is interrupted by a stranger who claims to be his mother — and his acceptance of her opens in him a sense of pity for his former victims.

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