Venice is the oldest film festival in the world and quite possibly the most eccentric. This year's edition, the 62nd, has been the usual Felliniesque mix of carnival and chaos. There have been parties in the Doge's palace, packed screenings, tight but haphazard security and stormy press conferences. As for the films, the consensus among critics is that the programme has been far stronger than in recent years. Even more surprising, everything has run pretty much on time. Geoffrey McNab reports in The Guardian.