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August 15- August 22,2004 |
A Master's Early Treasures
Three of Bernardo Bertolucci's classic movies get big-screen attention at AGO's Jackman Hall
By Angela Baldassarre
Originally Published: 2004-08-01
Since writing about cinema, I've frequently mentioned Italian master Bernardo Bertolucci as my favourite living filmmaker. But these last few years he's been referred to by critics as a dried-up talent who, in middle age, has long lost his way. Oscar-winning The Last Emperor (1987) is the shining exception to a series of misguided projects: Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981), The Sheltering Sky (1990), Little Buddha (1994), Stealing Beauty (1996), Besieged (1998) and most recently The Dreamers (2003).
Admittedly biased, I try to stay open to this famously principled man who's impressed me several times during interviews with his cultivated, intelligent and compassionate soul.
However, there's no getting around the fact that Bertolucci's glory days were in the 60s and 70s when he was among the most audacious voices of world cinema. Echoing this opinion, Cinematheque Ontario is presenting Italian Trilogy: Three Early Films by Bertolucci. These include Before the Revolution (1964), The Spider's Stratagem (1970) and The Conformist (1970).
Born on March 16, 1940 in Parma, Italy, Bertolucci grew up in an atmosphere of comfort and intellectualism. His father, a poet, anthologist, film critic and art history professor, encouraged Bernardo's childhood interest in films by frequently taking him to film screenings. At the age of 15 Bertolucci made two short films about children, but was also gaining respect throughout Italy as a writer. His first book, In Search of Mystery (In Cerca del Mistero), won the Premio Viareggio, one of the top literary awards in Italy. At the University of Rome (1958-1961) Bertolucci began his film career as an assistant director to Pier Paolo Pasolini. Following his work on Pasolini's Accattone, Bertolucci left the University of Rome without graduating and embarked on an independent study of film.
Bertolucci's first feature film, The Grim Reaper (La Commare Secca), was filmed on location in Rome in 1962. Before the Revolution (Prima della Rivoluzione), his second feature film, did no better commercially than The Grim Reaper, but won him recognition at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964.
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