Luchino Visconti's third feature film, Bellissima (1951) is without a doubt his key work. In this film Visconti's common themes and the basis of his art are portrayed. Bellissima is a very realistic film; the first observation of Visconti is the alienation of man -- that's why he locates his characters in social relations. Luchino Visconti was able to trap his characters into their own existence. The characters are prisoners of their own environments. Bellissima is a very beautiful film, but the beauty doesn't come from picturesque images or incredibly misery. The beauty comes from the way how the film is able to honor people in all situations. Bellissima is a tribute to life and innocence.
A director announces that he needs a 6-8 year old girl to play a role in his film. Just like hundreds of women, Maddalena Cecconi drags her daughter to the audition. The dream of her daughter's career puts everything else aside; their family savings are spent to the girl's ballet lessons and new dresses. Maddalena is blinded by fame, fortune and romantic illusion. But in the end the cruelty and superficiality of the industry make her realize what really matters.
A common feature in the films by Visconti is the escapism of drama. Anna Magnani's character escapes to the world of cinema, watching John Wayne and Montgomery Clift's adventures in Howard Hawks' Red River. Through cinema she denies her responsibility -- cinema is her redemption. This refers to Maddalena Cecconi's relationship between her daughter. She is completely alienated from her and by taking her to the world of cinema, she tries to escape the problematic milieu, combine reality and fiction; to make ugly look beautiful. But Maddalena is actually only changing her alienation to another form.
The film exudes social reality, the one which forces one to act. It seems like the only way to keep your purity. But eventually one will leave this aesthetic life behind and realize the true dignity of man. Anna Magnani's character has been blind her whole life, for many years. But the cruelty of the film industry suddenly makes her realize this deep dignity. The ending of Bellissima is absolutely beautiful; the camera chases through the apartment and takes a close-up of the girl asleep. This is the first time fiction, fantasy and illusion have been forgotten; now only the true innocence and beauty are revealed. The true beauty of life.
A director announces that he needs a 6-8 year old girl to play a role in his film. Just like hundreds of women, Maddalena Cecconi drags her daughter to the audition. The dream of her daughter's career puts everything else aside; their family savings are spent to the girl's ballet lessons and new dresses. Maddalena is blinded by fame, fortune and romantic illusion. But in the end the cruelty and superficiality of the industry make her realize what really matters.
A common feature in the films by Visconti is the escapism of drama. Anna Magnani's character escapes to the world of cinema, watching John Wayne and Montgomery Clift's adventures in Howard Hawks' Red River. Through cinema she denies her responsibility -- cinema is her redemption. This refers to Maddalena Cecconi's relationship between her daughter. She is completely alienated from her and by taking her to the world of cinema, she tries to escape the problematic milieu, combine reality and fiction; to make ugly look beautiful. But Maddalena is actually only changing her alienation to another form.
The film exudes social reality, the one which forces one to act. It seems like the only way to keep your purity. But eventually one will leave this aesthetic life behind and realize the true dignity of man. Anna Magnani's character has been blind her whole life, for many years. But the cruelty of the film industry suddenly makes her realize this deep dignity. The ending of Bellissima is absolutely beautiful; the camera chases through the apartment and takes a close-up of the girl asleep. This is the first time fiction, fantasy and illusion have been forgotten; now only the true innocence and beauty are revealed. The true beauty of life.