Long acknowledged as one of the leading figures of mid-century Italian cinema, Luchino Visconti (1906 – 1976) was a gifted visual artist as well as a paradoxical character — a committed Marxist who descended from a noble northern Italian family, rulers of the duchy of Milan and patrons of the early Renaissance in that strategic city. Elegant and literary, Visconti was not only a filmmaker but an accomplished musician, painter, designer, and racehorse breeder, although it was his interest in opera and theater that ultimately led him to filmmaking. He started in film by working with Jean Renoir who, Visconti admitted, “was a human influence not a professional one.” More frequently than his contemporaries, Visconti made use of motifs from European art history to enrich his mise-en-scènes, sets, and costumes, creating a sophisticated visual vocabulary. This retrospective, featuring iconic films like Ossessione and Bellissima is presented by the National Gallery of Art in association with Cinecittà Luce.
FILM SCHEDULE:
November 3 at 2 – Ossessione
November 9 at 2:30 – Bellissima
November 10 at 2:30 – La terra trema
November 17 at 4:00 – White Nights (Le notti bianche)
November 18 at 4:00 -Senso
November 23 at 2:00 – Rocco and His Brothers
November 24 at 2:00 – The Leopard (Il gattopardo)
December 1 at 2:00 – Sandra (Vaghe stelle dell’orsa) preceded by Visconti segment from Siamo donne
December 8 at 4:00 – Conversation Piece (Gruppo di famiglia in un interno)
December 9 at 4:00 – Death in Venice
December 15 at 2:00 – Ludwig
December 16 at 4:00 – L’Innocente
LOCATION
National Gallery of Art
East Building Auditorium
6th & Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565
Programs are free of charge, but seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Films are screened in original formats, when possible. Doors open approximately 30 minutes before each show. Programs are subject to change.
MORE INFO AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE: CLICK HERE