Agenda Movie Club: The Leopard

The Leopard

Luchino Visconti

1963

Another case of me wishing I knew more about a country’s history in order to appreciate a movie more (strangely, not so that I am a more aware and knowledgeable individual). This is a BEAUTIFUL film, although one I don’t completely understand. I know the very basics of the Garibaldi revolution, but the way this affects the social structure in Italy is ambiguous. Maybe that’s how it was in real life.

I like seeing how the young men are sort of co-opted by the establishment, and lose their ideals in the face of power, money, and (sort of) pragmatism. Actually, I think the case is that they never had those ideals, which may be the point.

I should have a whole lot to say about this, but it feels like it’s too complex for me to get after one viewing. I’d like to watch it with the historical commentary. Has anyone seen this? Can you tell me about the subtext and all that? There’s a ton of it, that much I know.

I also know that it was absolutely worth every one of its 187 minutes.

Another thing: It seems strange to cast Burt Lancaster as a 19th century Sicilian aristocrat, but it really works. He’s always seemed to me to have that little sparkle in his eyes that makes him seem regal, and like he knows something you don’t and is kind of a bastard about it. Bizarrely, he speaks English while everyone else in the movie speaks Italian. You can either watch it with his voice dubbed into Italian or with everyone else dubbed into English. I only saw the Italian version, another reason I’d like to watch this again.

The last 45 minutes (or whatever) is one scene, a wedding. How long a list can you make of movies that were heavily influenced by this scene? A very long one, that’s how long.

Also, Claudia Cardinale.

I’ll write about this one again after I get a chance to see it another time.