Review of Death in Venice (1971) by Matthew B — 31 Aug 2010
The melting Adagietto from Mahler's Symphony No. 5 seems to dominate more than the soundtrack of Luchino Visconti's sumptuous, meandering masterwork. It captures the limpidness of Venice, with its boscage of Byzantine relics and Gothic architecture and its languid canals; more so, it surges (like a dirge? a love letter? a paean?) through the character of Gustav von Aschenbach, deifying his fascination with the indescribably beautiful perfection of Tadzio.
It is difficult to imagine any actor other than Dirk Bogarde in the central role - so effete, yet so tragically humane and pathetic. Bjorn Andresen is certainly captivating as the personification of Beauty.
This review of Death in Venice (1971) was written by Matthew B on 31 Aug 2010.
Death in Venice has generally received very positive reviews.
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