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Venice Debuts Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Monroe Short starring Dakota Johnson

7/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Venice Film Festival will host the September premiere of the 17-minute short “Flesh Impact.”
Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote and directed the film, which was presented by Genesis as a centennial tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
Dakota Johnson portrays Marilyn Monroe at age 36.
Ellen Burstyn plays a fictionalized older Monroe.
Gyllenhaal said she initially worried Johnson did not resemble Monroe but decided the likeness mattered little.

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Story summary

The Venice Film Festival will host the September premiere of the 17-minute short “Flesh Impact.”
Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote and directed the film, which was presented by Genesis as a centennial tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
Dakota Johnson portrays Marilyn Monroe at age 36.
Ellen Burstyn plays a fictionalized older Monroe.
Gyllenhaal said she initially worried Johnson did not resemble Monroe but decided the likeness mattered little.