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Bellissima Details

1951 Certificate U
  • 70
  • from 325 members

When casting children's roles, director Luchino Visconti (The Leopard; Death in Venice) is said to have been besieged by clamouring mothers, each trying to attract his attention to their child with cries of "Bellissima!". In his film of the same name, Visconti turned his experiences into art, in the form of a satire on the .. Read more

Starring Anna Magnani, Walter Chiari, Tina Apicella, Gastone Renzelli
Director Luchino Visconti
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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Bellissima cover art

Bellissima

When casting children's roles, director Luchino Visconti (The Leopard; Death in Venice) is said to have been besieged by clamouring mothers, each trying to attract his attention to their child with cries of "Bellissima!". In his film of the same name, Visconti turned his experiences into art, in the form of a satire on the motivations and machinations at work in the film industry, with the famous Cinecittą studios as a backdrop.

Maddalena (Anna Magnani) is a screenstruck mother convinced of her daughter Maria's (Tina Apicella) star potential. Dreaming of a better life for her family - as a means of escape from the struggles of everyday existence in working-class Rome - she invests everything, including her last penny, into the dream that her daughter will be discovered at an open casting. However, on overhearing the film crew's candid assessment of her daughter's audition (in what Variety described in 1952 as "one of the cruellest scenes ever filmed") Maddalena is forced to reconsider her views on the film industry and its world of illusions.

Starring Anna Magnani, Walter Chiari, Tina Apicella, Gastone Renzelli, Tecla Scarano, Lola Braccini, Arturo Bragaglia, Nora Ricci, Vittorina Benvenuti, Linda Sini, Teresa Battaggi, Gisella Monaldi, Amalia Pellegrini, Luciana Ricci, Giuseppina Arena
Director Luchino Visconti
Studio ARVATO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 50 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Drama, World Cinema
Language DVD: Italian
Subtitles DVD: English
Released Production year: 1951

To Rent:
DVD: 24 Sep 2007

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325 Member ratings
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52
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25
  • 80
95
  • 70
61
  • 60
38
  • 50
16
  • 40
17
  • 30
9
  • 20
9
  • 10
3

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by: Dr Benway from Interzone

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    • Bellissima

    • Bellissima
      When casting children's roles, director Luchino Visconti (The Leopard; Death in Venice) is said to have been besieged by clamouring mothers, each trying to attract his attention to their child with cries of "Bellissima!". In his film of the same name, Visconti turned his experiences into art, in ...

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