Tuesday Film and Discussion - Death in Venice

(1971) Italy. Dir Luchino Visconti, with: Dirk Bogarde, Silvana Mangano, and Bjorn Andresen. Dur 130 minutes. In Italian with English subtitles

Death in Venice, a deeply evocative film directed by the great Luchino Visconti, based on the novella by Thomas Mann. This film is a fascinating exploration of beauty, obsession, and mortality, set against the haunting backdrop of Venice, a city known for its decaying grandeur and timeless allure.

The film stars Dirk Bogarde in one of his most celebrated roles as Gustav von Aschenbach, an aging composer who travels to Venice in search of peace and artistic inspiration. What he finds instead is a fixation on the youthful beauty of a boy named Tadzio, which ultimately leads him into a downward spiral of desire, obsession, and existential reflection. Bogarde’s portrayal is both restrained and powerful, perfectly capturing the internal turmoil of a man confronted with the fleeting nature of life and beauty.

 Visconti’s direction is nothing short of breathtaking. A master of period detail and lush visuals, he transforms Venice into a character of its own—beautiful yet crumbling, mirroring Aschenbach’s emotional and physical decline. The cinematography enhances this atmosphere, with every shot carefully composed to evoke a sense of decay, loss, and unattainable perfection.

 One of the most memorable aspects of the film is its use of Gustav Mahler’s music, which perfectly underscores the film’s themes of yearning and melancholy.

 Thematically, Death in Venice explores the tension between artistic inspiration and personal obsession. It raises questions about the nature of beauty and the painful realization that both life and art are fleeting. Following the screening there will be a film analysis about and discussion with independent filmmaker and scholar Elías Nahmías who has studied and worked in every aspect of filmmaking.

Donation:

Members: $100MXN
Non-members $150MXN