Opening Night Gala, New York Film Festival 2011

Adapted from Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage, Roman Polanski's new film is the year's most scathing, shocking, unsettlingly honest and surprisingly hilarious comedy. After a child is injured in a playground scuffle, the victim's father and mother (John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster) invite the assailant's parents (Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet) over to their house for what they intend to be a civilized reconciliation. But what begins cordially soon descends into chaos as tempers flare, secrets are revealed and the Scotch starts to flow. With the stunning quartet of stars delivering no-holds-barred performances under Polanski's ruthlessly tight direction, Carnage is destined to be a prime contender this award season.