One of those films which it almost hurts to see again, and still you can't see it many times enough. Already the second time you start crying from the beginning.
It's a very simple story of only two people meeting, talking, quarreling, discussing, trying to come to terms with themselves and with a horrible destiny, that is the very epitome of injustice.
I have never seen any of these actors before nor ever heard of the director. It's one of those unique masterpieces that appear suddenly in a flash of dazzling brightness - to never be repeated.
As they talk and wander around Venice their story is gradually revealed by their natural talk and flashbacks, which amounts to a terrific build-up of tragedy that can leave no one unmoved.
The beauty of the film becomes the more overwhelming for the enchantment of the Venetian environment and, above all, the music. After hearing only the first bars you'll remember it forever and always keep returning to it.
Tony Musante makes the best of the musician trying to keep up appearances with a spotless facade at any cost no matter the total adversity, but the quiet inexpressibility of Florinda Bolkan is the more impressing for her supreme self control, as if she was constantly furious hiding the inner fire as well as a sleeping volcano. Her stone face is so serious, that when finally she reveals a smile it outshines the whole tragedy - together with the constant flashbacks of the supreme beauty and freshness of their youth.
Strangely enough, Visconti's masterpiece "Death in Venice" was made almost simultaneously, both appeared in 1970, but this small gem totally outshines the more pretentious Visconti classic.
It's like a short story by Chekhov comprising a universe of feelings and drama in a moment's brief revelation of the worst problems and complexities of human existence.
You'll just melt and can say no more.
It's a very simple story of only two people meeting, talking, quarreling, discussing, trying to come to terms with themselves and with a horrible destiny, that is the very epitome of injustice.
I have never seen any of these actors before nor ever heard of the director. It's one of those unique masterpieces that appear suddenly in a flash of dazzling brightness - to never be repeated.
As they talk and wander around Venice their story is gradually revealed by their natural talk and flashbacks, which amounts to a terrific build-up of tragedy that can leave no one unmoved.
The beauty of the film becomes the more overwhelming for the enchantment of the Venetian environment and, above all, the music. After hearing only the first bars you'll remember it forever and always keep returning to it.
Tony Musante makes the best of the musician trying to keep up appearances with a spotless facade at any cost no matter the total adversity, but the quiet inexpressibility of Florinda Bolkan is the more impressing for her supreme self control, as if she was constantly furious hiding the inner fire as well as a sleeping volcano. Her stone face is so serious, that when finally she reveals a smile it outshines the whole tragedy - together with the constant flashbacks of the supreme beauty and freshness of their youth.
Strangely enough, Visconti's masterpiece "Death in Venice" was made almost simultaneously, both appeared in 1970, but this small gem totally outshines the more pretentious Visconti classic.
It's like a short story by Chekhov comprising a universe of feelings and drama in a moment's brief revelation of the worst problems and complexities of human existence.
You'll just melt and can say no more.