605 - The Age of the Medici, Part 1, Italy, 1972. Dir. Roberto Rossellini.

Friday, February 15, 2019

605 - The Age of the Medici, Part 1, Italy, 1972.  Dir. Roberto Rossellini.

Part 1: The Exile of Cosimo de Medici.

Rossellini is in the final stages of his life.  He was born in 1906 and will die in 1977.  He made his groundbreaking neo-realist films in the 1940s and 50s.  Now in the 70s, and he in his 60s, he wants to give back to his viewers by bringing them the history of the great civilization in which they live.

Thus, he has devoted himself to making teaching films.  The purpose of these films is to help provide the viewer with a classical liberal arts education, to fight again the narrowing of specialization, and to help liberate the viewer to live a broader, more all-encompassing life.  He is putting together a Great Books of cinema.

His production values are as rich and vibrant as ever.  As you watch this film, it is a marvel to realize that it was made for television.  Especially in a time when many people still have small, square, black-and-white TV sets.  It is rich with color.  And with exquisite wardrobe.

As with yesterday's film, Blaise Pascal, we have people standing around talking.  The focus is less on the art of living the part and more on the art of literature and history delivered orally and in performance.  People make speeches.  Sometimes they are aware of the camera and the audience.  The camera is often still, sitting on a tripod, and in a wide shot.  But the artistry is not necessarily less excellent for it.  It is just focused on different things.  It is a kind of a hybrid between acting and a history lecture--an engaging and informative history lecture.

While learning history, one is also exposed to science and art, philosophy and medicine, painting and sculpture, architecture and music, mathematics and civics.  The humanities.

Through the lives of the Medici.

The great director Vittorio de Sica's son, Manuel de Sica, composed the score to this film.