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The latest, and though at first it seems like a trifle, it’s actually rather affecting and haunting. It’s the usual Tinto Brass story of the past two decades: Jealousy as an aphrodisiac. The characters sure ain’t deep, but there are some lovely moments. Léon’s camera is named TINTA, and the catatonic hotel owner stares unblinkingly at a television set that is playing Brass’s earlier film Il tempo libero (or is it Il tempo lavorativo?), as the frames spell out the director’s name.
This was shot mostly, perhaps entirely, in digital video, and the quality is remarkably good. The electronic mask was set at 1.85:1, which should solve all problems that all of Brass’s films had suffered in their DVD transfers. It was so nice to see only one credit devoted to authorship, rather than Brass’s usual two. Ahhhhh. I saw this movie only once. I think I’ll watch it again — Soon.
Sadly, this was Tinta’s last movie. She died on 9 August 2006. Here is a small page dedicated to her.
Vaguely reminiscent of Roberto Rossellini’s Journey to Italy (Viaggio in Italia)
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| The Italian Region-2 PAL DVD, which will not play on most US equipment. | The British Region-2 PAL DVD, which will not play on most US equipment. Optional English subtitles. The Brits didn’t understand the Venetian pun in the title, did they? |