"Senso" is not widely regarded as a topfilm of Visconti. This is due to the fact that the story is regarded as overly melodramatc. This maybe so, but on the other hand the design and cinematography is superb. By the way, when the film was released it gave rise to political controversy in Italy. The story was not entirely innocent after all.
"Senso" is situated somewhere between the neorealist period of Visconti (from "Ossessione" in 1943 till "Bellissima" in 1951) and the more personal, theatrical period starting with "Le notti bianche" (1957).
Because of this two interpretations are possible. In the neo realist interpretation Franz Mahler is a realist who realizes that in a war soldiers are used as a sort of pawns by the ruling class. He refuses to be abused that way, and does everything possible to evade the battle.
In a more theatrical interpretation (which is more obvious given the prominent role dat opera plays in this film) Franz Mahler is a coward who abuses the love of an older woman to finance his luxury (and safe) life. In this interpretation "Senso"contains elements of "Barry Lyndon" (1975, Stanley Kubrick, abusing the love of an older woman) and "The cranes are flying" (1957, Mikhail Kalatozov, illegaly evading military service).
Maybe it is because these two pssible interpretations that the appreciation of this Visconti movie in general lags behind the other movies of his oeuvre.
"Senso" is situated somewhere between the neorealist period of Visconti (from "Ossessione" in 1943 till "Bellissima" in 1951) and the more personal, theatrical period starting with "Le notti bianche" (1957).
Because of this two interpretations are possible. In the neo realist interpretation Franz Mahler is a realist who realizes that in a war soldiers are used as a sort of pawns by the ruling class. He refuses to be abused that way, and does everything possible to evade the battle.
In a more theatrical interpretation (which is more obvious given the prominent role dat opera plays in this film) Franz Mahler is a coward who abuses the love of an older woman to finance his luxury (and safe) life. In this interpretation "Senso"contains elements of "Barry Lyndon" (1975, Stanley Kubrick, abusing the love of an older woman) and "The cranes are flying" (1957, Mikhail Kalatozov, illegaly evading military service).
Maybe it is because these two pssible interpretations that the appreciation of this Visconti movie in general lags behind the other movies of his oeuvre.