One of the all-time great films

This film is considered one of the all-time greats for many reasons: the sweep of the narrative matched by exceptional (and un-laboured) acting, visual grandeur and slow-burning intensity: a rare instance of a fairly esoteric novella brought richly to life.

The gist of the story centres on the point where an established aristocratic Sicilian family faces social changes brought about by the unification of Italy in 1860: the head of the family can see the necessity for 'things to change so that everything can stay the same', mainly by encouraging his beloved nephew to marry the beautiful daughter of a shady local upstart in preference to his own daughter, while most of his family and class don't have the same insight or shrewdness.

Some aspects may seem troubling to a modern audience, principally the fact that some of the actors (Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon) are dubbed into Italian, and the sound in general isn't of the standard most people are used to now; but these are minor quibbles in light of the exceptionally appropriate casting and the uniformly high standard of acting. Not to mention the outstanding production values: this is arguably the first major film where the authenticity of the costumes isn't modified to suit the taste of the time the film is made (ie there's nothing that'll make you think of 1963 in the way the cast is presented).

It's always a mark of a good film when each successive viewing unearths further subtleties, and there's plenty of scope here: look for the point where the initially revolutionary charmer Tancredi turns conventional; or the clarity with which the prince sees his class's inertia when he refuses, with kindness and dignity, the offer of taking part in the new government.

Yes, it's long, but the concentration required bears immense rewards.