Death in Venice
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Movie Reviews of Death in Venice
Movie Review: An exquisite film
Summary: 5 Stars
Make no mistake - Many would find this film difficult to watch; impossible to watch right through for most. As an friend said once, watching 'Death In Venice' is to be exquisitely bored.
Most people today, especially those younger people born after 1980 and the age of "MTV" would think the idea of spending 2 hours watching an old, closted gay guy stalking a pretty young boy all over Venice ridiculous, even insane.
I remember watching this film when I was in my mid-20's and hating it. But now that I am older, I know what its all about, and feel the tragedy of von Aschenbach. At last I understand it, and I find it a masterpiece.
Von Aschenbach is getting old, and feels old. He is conservative to the point of being pathetic. While he watches the beautiful Tadzio, desiring him, it is the desire to be young and free that he also desires, not just the love of and desire for beauty. To be able to covort in the ocean and roll around in the mud in the hugging grasp of a loved friend is probably what von Aschenbach wants to do. But society and convention demand that he sits in a deck chair on the beach eating strawberries. When we watch this film, the stifling boredom of high society jumps out of the screen at us. Von Aschenbach desparetly wants to escape this suffocating society, but can't. His only escape is by proxy; through watching the beautiful boy, Tadzio.
But this is not all. Tadzio is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, and as von Aschenbach has striven for beauty all his life, he becomes obsessed by Tadzio. He becomes a tragic, old queen stalking a beautiful 14 year old boy. Finally this tragic episode in his life comes to a conclusion when he is talked into having a 'makeover' by a barber, having his grey hair painted over with black paint, his face covered in white make-up, mascara applyed to his eyes and red lipstick put on. As he leaves the barber shop with a new confidence that he looks 20 years younger, we can see he looks pathetic - so pathetic it brings tears to the eyes. We cring in horror as we watch the lipstick being applyed to his lips; we shout out loud "NO!!" as he walks out into the street wearing make-up that gives him the appearance of a tragic old clown.
Yes folks, this is one of the saddest films ever. Sad because as we get older, we can identify with von Aschenbach and his desire to be young, and his desire for young beauty. We feel his pain as he desires that young beauty that we know he can't have. All this happening in the most beautiful city in the world, looking absolutely exquisite.
Movie Review: This could have been me!
Summary: 5 Stars
Thomas Mann's 'Death In Venice' portrays the pathetic and public disintegration of a human being. One witnesses the decayed aftermath of a man whose spirit and health have been ruined by his inability to live and breathe as he was intended. One's sexuality is about the total human being, it's as much about dignity and happiness as it is about sex. And here we witness the downward spiral of an otherwise intelligent, sensitive, charming and creative soul who is slowly eaten away by years of denial and deception, and then suddenly implodes from the pain and pressure of all his yesterdays.
Dirk Bogarde, who plays the lead, Gustav, is one of my favorite actors. His portrayal in the English gay suspence film, 'The Victim' is even better than it is here in 'Death In Venice' (I highly recommend looking into other Bogarde films, he brings an introspection and depth that I find interesting all by itself). In fact, 'The Victim' would be Hitchcock at his very best. And Bjorn Andresen, who plays Tadzio, Gustav's young man of interest, plays his part with the utmost understanding, discretion and sensitivity to make the storyline believable. He's seductive and upper class, and worldly enough to know what's going on with Gustav, far more than even the much older and established Gustav.
As a young man I could imagine no worse future than to have lived my life as a complete lie, and to look back in utter horror and regret at what had been lost and could never be regained. This is the nighmare maze in which Gustav now finds himself. This is the film that told me that the risk of coming out of the closet is zeroed-out when compared to the humiliation and despair of a degraded and wasted life.
I first saw this film years ago, on video. It lacked the luster of the dvd format and quality it is now available on. Next to 'Another Country,' with Rupert Everett, this is the most significant 'gay' film I own. The message is unmistakable. The music from Mahler's 3rd. and 5th. symphonies is absolutely perfect (this was also my introduction to Mahler, who has become my favorite composer.)
I am always looking for a film that will enage me, and be relevant to my life as well as saying something of significance in the larger drama of human experience. This film fills that bill. A must own film for people like me.
Movie Review: Why bad choices matter
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating story of a very depressed and humiliated composter/conductor whose nervois collapse sends him on a trip to Venice to regain his health, mental and physical. It's obvious that the main character (Dirk Bogarde, a great actor) is inordinately attracted to the sensual and obviously budding young homosexual (one scene where he and another young boy cavort on the beach resolve that question, if you had one). As the story continues, our main character becomes more and more obsessed with posessing the beauty and sensuality of the flirtacious young male "beauty" who turns out to be Bogarde's undoing. He becomes so obsessed and enamored with this young boy, that his toughts and desires are so completely captivated that he ignores the dangerous fact that the city is among many being doomed by cholera and that the safest thing (according to the manager of the hotel) is to get out of Venice before he becomes a victim (you see them dying on the street and the city trying to pretend it's not s dangerous disease that will ruin the tourist trade if widely known. Well, he doesn'tleave. Instead, he goes to a hairstylest/make-up artist in an attempt to artificially restore his youth and good looks in order to attract the young boy on the beach. This young boy's mother is so busy enjoying herself on the beach with friends that's she's blinded by the terrible story unfolding under her nose, if only she'd look. The young boy is only having narcissistic pleasure torturing Bogarde and is unaware in the closing scene, that Bogarde, sitting on a beach chair watching the young adonis, is dying, his make-up running down his sick and fevered face and at last realizing his folly, dies quietly, bitterly laughing, recognizing that his choice to pursue a self-absorbed and sensual young boy (rather than fleeing a plague) has cost him his life. A cautionary tale with much to think about and the exquisite music of Gustav Mahler played hauntingly throughout the film is the perfect accompaniment for this tragedy. The cinematogaraphy is gorgeous; some of the comic performances of entertainers delicious, everyone perfectly cast in a truly fine and thoughtful film about the tragedy of pursuing things that have no eternal value. I loved it and the message it conveys. Think about it.Movie Review: Thank you for the DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
This had been one of my favorite movies when I had seen it years ago in the theatre, but I was only able to get a VHS tape 6 months ago. Unfortunately it was a full screen version and while the movie was recognizeable, it lacked the impact that I remembered from the theatre. This dvd makes all the difference. The sets and camera work are largely what make this movie work and the pan and scan used with the tape just about destroyed it. Now with the DVD, I can see that virtually every shot, set-up I think it is called in the business, is a work of art of composition and color. This is a film from Italy, a nation with a preeminent tradition in the visual arts and Death In Venice shows this visual sense to perfection. I have never seen another movie as artistically shot as this.
The plot and story line are very much underplayed and frankly many people I know don't get this film. The story developes, more than is told as in a conventional film. Rather than watching it, you live this movie. You watch it in delight at the what you are seeing and experiencing of being in Venice at the turn of the century. The story just sort of unfolds around around this visual experience, rather like real life.
While the picture quality of the DVD is very much better than the VHS tape, the sound is only somewhat better. Nevertheless there is less wow and flutter than in the tape or than I remember from the theatre. Unfortunately the movie predates the general adoption of stereo sound, let alone Dolby surround. Given the extensive use of music, especially Mahler's 5'th symphony, one can only dream as to what this movie would be like with modern sound.
Movie Review: " Don't ever smile like that at anyone, except me "
Summary: 5 Stars
Thomas Mann's controversial novel is the basis for the film "A Death in Venice. " Although in the book, the hero is an author, in the film the director Luchino Visconti who also wrote the screenplay, transforms him into a Composer. As such, the Author/Composer, Gustav Von Aschebach (Dirk Bogarde) on the verge of mental exhaustion is a burned-out artisan. After a long and successful career now seeks the peace and tranquility of a less hectic life. He decides to go on vacation to Venice where he hopes to rejuvenate his dwindling ambition. However, while staying at the picturesque seaside resort, he captures the attention of a beautiful young teenage boy, Tadzio (Björn Andrésen) who eyes him with curious interest and is immediately smitten by him. Although Gustav is captivated by the wondrous youth, he nevertheless must find some private time away from the boy's governess (Nora Ricci), while having to cope with a invading plague which seems to have infested the city. The movie dialog, like the novel remains subtle as are the few brief encounters between the boy and the artist. In the end. the audience unlike the book is hampered with innuendos and imaginative flights of fancy. Their affair is never given opportunity and if not for the brief resolution in the book, the film allows only the possibility of 'what if.' Nevertheless, one can sympathize with the hero and wish him a moment's peace to obtain that which is forbidden, elusive but definitely criticized by prying eyes. Great story and a Bogarde Classic. ****