Director Peter Landesman arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Parkland’ at the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival held from Aug. 28 through Sept. 7, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013. (Photo credit: AP photo by Domenico Stinellis)

By COLLEEN BARRY
The Associated Press

VENICE, Italy — Director Peter Landesman says he licensed the infamous footage of John F. Kennedy’s assassination for his film “Parkland” but decided to present it in reflection, and not as a straight image, to present events from an angle no one has seen before.

Landesman called Abraham Zapruder’s film “probably the most-examined film in history,” but said his movie “is not out to pick a fight” over conspiracy theories.

He therefore chose to show the historic images reflected in the eyeglasses of Zapruder, played by Paul Giamatti, to give the perspective of a witness. He said the film aims to show “the disorientation and the chaos” of the day and present events from a new perspective.

The film, with an ensemble cast, premieres Sunday in competition at the Venice Film Festival.