VENICE, Italy — Julia Roberts and director Luca Guadagnino confronted challenging queries regarding women’s issues and their contributions to the feminist movement during a press conference for their film, “After the Hunt,” on Friday at the Venice Film Festival. The film, set in academia, features Roberts as a revered philosophy professor embroiled in a scandal when her mentee, portrayed by Ayo Edebiri, accuses her colleague, played by Andrew Garfield, of inappropriate behavior. The narrative presents a complicated web of conflicts without straightforward resolutions.

During the conference, a journalist raised concerns about whether the film could be seen as undermining the progress of the #MeToo movement. In response, Roberts emphasized that the film does not reignite old narratives of female rivalry.

“It’s not about creating divisions,” Roberts stated. She noted that the film aims to provoke conversation, as reflected in its promotional tagline, “not everything is supposed to make you feel comfortable.” According to Roberts, the emotional spectrum that the film elicits is vital to its impact.

“After the Hunt” premiered for select press and industry insiders on Thursday, igniting debates before its official showing. Roberts remarked that she appreciated the thought-provoking questions, suggesting that the film was designed to encourage intense discussions about personal beliefs and convictions.

Guadagnino joined the conversation, highlighting the complexity of truth in human interactions. “We explore the clash of truths without trying to deliver a clear manifesto,” he explained, reinforcing their collaborative aim to depict a moment rife with moral ambiguity.

Roberts described their approach as capturing characters in a moment of self-deception, suggesting that it reflects a broader societal decline in meaningful dialogue. “If this film encourages even a small number of people to converse, then we’ve accomplished something significant,” she said.

Set for a North American release on October 10 by Amazon MGM Studios, the film features an opening credit style reminiscent of Woody Allen’s classics. When questioned about this choice, Guadagnino playfully responded, “Why not?” He further expressed that the film’s stylistic connections to past works serve as an homage to a branch of filmmaking they admire.

Though “After the Hunt” is not competing for any festival awards, it marks a notable return to Venice for Guadagnino, who presented works like “Queer” and “Bones & All” at previous editions. Roberts, a first-timer at this festival, reflected on the charm of the city while acknowledging her focus was solely on her work during the visit.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival continues to draw headlines, with anticipated premieres on the horizon, including Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite.” As the festival taps into pressing themes of our time, both Roberts and Guadagnino’s film invites audiences to grapple with uncomfortable truths, ensuring it remains a topic of discussion long after the credits roll.