news-old-title

Despite his acclaimed acting career, Russell Crowe has always really wanted to be a rock star.That dream appeared to come true on Friday night — at least for 99 minutes — as he premiered his self-directed documentary “What Love Builds,” about his lesser-known music career, at the Venice Film Festival.

As Crowe entered the Sala Darsena (a smaller theater than the Sala Grande, where gala premieres are held), fans were already buzzing, with one shouting out “We love you Russell Crowe!” as the screening began. Throughout the documentary, which interweaves live performances with an interview of Crowe recounting both his film and music careers, the crowd clapped and cheered as if they were at a concert.

The screening concluded with a short but rowdy two-minute ovation, brought to a premature end when Crowe — who was wiping tears from his eyes — decided to exit.

“What Love Builds” combines concert footage, archive photos and interviews from the past 15 years. Beyond starring in films like “Gladiator” and “Master and Commander,” the New Zealand-born actor has a long-held passion for music and has performed in bands including 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, the Ordinary Fear of God and, most recently, Indoor Garden Party.

“Revealing and deeply personal, it shows how music and acting are intrinsic and interconnected through storytelling and performance,” the film’s synopsis says, adding that it’s “a rare, deep dive into the inspirations behind this legendary and enigmatic artist.”

The 62-year-old Crowe gained international recognition in the late ’90s for his roles in “L.A. Confidential” and “The Insider” and won the best actor Oscar for his performance in Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator.” He made his directorial debut in 2014 with “The Water Diviner” and also helmed 2022’s “Poker Face” starring Liam Hemsworth and RZA. Crowe’s more recent roles include last year’s critically acclaimed “Nuremberg,” in which he portrayed Nazi leader Hermann Göring, and historical drama “The Weight” alongside Ethan Hawke, which bowed at Sundance earlier this year.