Visconti Retrospective Hits the Big Apple

Luchino Visconti’s artistic vision as a director and screenwriter had a major impact on cinematic history.  To celebrate his accomplishments, a retrospective of his most prized works are being showcased throughout the month of June in New York City.

This is an incredible retrospective that features amazing restorations of these movies, and particularly of Death in Venice, from its original negative. Camilla Cormanni International and Events Programmer of Luce Cinecittà

A shot from Death in Venice

Luchino Visconti (1906-1976)

Starting at the Harvard Film Archive in Cambridge, the retrospective will move on to TIFF in Toronto, ON, Bampfa in Berkeley, CA, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., MFAH in Houston, TX, and The Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, IL after New York.

The Opening of the Visconti Retrospective

The opening night, organized by Sally Fischer PR, featured a cocktail reception as well as a showing of the 4k restored version of Death in Venice at the Walter Reade Theater. The movie was restored by Cineteca di Bologna, Istituto Luce Cinecittà.  Florence Almozini, the Associate Director of Programming at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Camilla Cormanni, the International and Events Programmer of Luce Cinecittà, explain that this long-awaited retrospective contains a variety of restored films and rare prints which show the director’s full range of artistic abilities. 

Almozini shared her passion for Visconti's work, particularly for his masterpiece Ludwig, and says that "every film that you can watch is a memorable experience…especially on the big screen!" She continues, "Visconti is a master, representing decades of Italian cinematic history." 

Almozini then welcomed Camilla Cormanni who underlined the uniqueness of the exhibition: "This is an incredible retrospective that features amazing restorations of these movies, particularly of Death in Venice, from their original negatives."

Visconti and the Arts

Born in Milan, Italy in 1906, Visconti was of noble birth.  His wealthy upbringing brought music, art, and theatre into his life. He also had the privilege of meeting some of the most important artists of the time, like composer Giacomo Puccini, the conductor Arturo Toscanini, and writer Gabriele D’Annunzio.

Visconti began working in the film industry as an assistant director in 1935.  His first feature film that he wrote and directed was Ossessione (1943), which is also considered the first neorealist movie.  Additionally, he adapted literature into film with classics like Death in Venice, and The Stranger which are all included in the retrospective. Visconti’s achievements reached further than filmmaking, he was a theatre and opera director throughout 1946 to 1960.

Organizers of the Event

This event was organized by Florence Almozini and Dan Sullivan of Film Society of Lincoln Center, and by Camilla Cormanni and Paola Ruggiero of Istituto Luce Cinecittà, presented in association with the Ministry of Culture of Italy.

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