Luchino Visconti: Filmmaker and Philosopher (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781350185777)

Luchino Visconti (1906-1976) was one of Europe's most prestigious filmmakers, who rose to prominence as part of the Italian neo-realist movement, alongside contemporaries Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini. Famous for his elegant lifestyle, as friend of Jean Renoir and Coco Chanel amongst others, his vibrant technicolour dramas are also known for their decadence and stunning display of aesthetic mastery and sensory pleasure.

Looking beyond this colourful fa軋de, however, Resina explores the philosophical implications of decadence with a particular focus on three films from the late phase in Visconti's production, Damned (1969), Death in Venice (1971), and Ludwig (1972). From the incestuous relationship between decadence and power to decadence as an outcome of straining toward formal perfection, Resina uncovers the unity and philosophical cohesiveness of these films that deal with different subjects and historical periods.

Reading these films and their decadence in light of the time of filming and Visconti's own sense of cultural doom, Resina further demonstrates the relevance of Visconti's philosophy today and how much they still have to say to our contemporary situation.

Author: Joan Ramon Resina
ISBN-10: 1350185779
ISBN-13: 9781350185777
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English
Published: 03/10/2022
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.98w x 0.79d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2023