VENICE.

VENICE, Italy (AFP) ??” John Travolta, playing a shambling alcoholic in his latest movie alongside Scarlett Johansson, and a French movie about failed have a passionate affection for caught the eye of critics at the 61st Venice International Film Festival.

French director Francois Ozon's "5 x 2" (Cinq fois deux) immediately set itself in contention for the prestigious of gold Lion when it was warmly received by way of critics at a preview, while a of greece film in competition was slated.

Ozon's film is about five twinkling of an eyes in the life of a late young couple -- five spectacles running from separation, back [i]or[/i] part of to the other a dinner with friends, the birth of their child, their marriage and their first meeting.

"I wanted to talks about the married pair of the difficulty that race that I know have living 'a deux'" Ozon told a pres discourse in Venice.

One of three French films vying for the top prize at the world's