Early Visconti (1943–63)

“It’s important to remember how essential the big screen was to Visconti’s whole project. These were immersive experiences, plunging us into impeccably reconstructed worlds that would help us get a grasp on history, politics, and human nature. If you’re able, don’t miss the chance to see these films on a big screen.”
—Bilge Ebiri, Village Voice
 

The life of the great Italian director Luchino Visconti (1906–76) was seemingly filled with contradictions. He was openly gay and a devout Catholic, of noble birth and a Marxist. As a filmmaker, he helped pioneer the neorealist movement in the early 1940s, yet would go on to make some of the most opulent films of his time. We’re excited to present this series focusing on the first half of Visconti’s output, spanning from his startling debut Ossessione to his lush historical epic The Leopard, a favorite of filmmaker Martin Scorsese and an influence on Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather.

This series was originally organized as a full retrospective by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York. Touring series organized by Luce Cinecittà, Rome.