Review of Death in Venice (1971) by Richie S — 11 Jun 2010

Let me be clear, if you have never read the book you would be hard pressed to remain in your seat even 20 minutes into Luchino Visconti's film. If you have never been to Venice the film will not persuade you. If you have never heard of Mahler the film will have no success in converting you. And if dialogue, cinematography and acting skill is your desire, again you are advised to steer clear.

What then makes this film so celebrated? Bogarde's performace is not particularly spectacular. The stark cinematography is not particularly appealing. The self-conscious boy stalked by Bogarde not particularly interesting. I cannot answer that question.

Visconti is out of his depth.The film lacks subtlety, it is crude in its portrayal of what clearly ought to be a very subtle affair. One has no real sense of the composer's nature apart from the obvious, because the dialogue is so painfully minimal and the flashbacks so poorly managed. There is an extremity that makes Death In Venice as a film simply too harsh. It completely ruins Bogarde's fascination with the Polish boy. Visconti fails to communicate exactly what it is that Bogarde is doing on a deeper level, which is surprising, because he has given himself two hours in which to do so.

All the ingredients are there: Venice, Drama, Philosophy, Art, Music, Beauty and Visconti seems oblivious to it all.