Anonimo veneziano

Enrico (Toni Musante) is a Venetian musician and maestro with a terminal disease, who invites his wife Valeria (Florinda Bolkan) to visit him in Venice without disclosing the reason for such invitation. Although still married, since there is no divorce in Italy, they have been living separated of each other for seven years. Valeria lives with their son and with her new mate, a wealthy industrial in Ferrara. When they meet each other, they walk along though Venice and recall their relationship since their first encounter, disclosing their intense love through flashbacks. Enrico lives a conflicting emotional moment of his life while recording the concert Anonimo Veneziano for oboe and strings.

"Anonimo Veneziano" is a melancholic and beautiful romance, an elegy to a terminal man in a dying city. There is a parallel in the story between the healthy of Enrico and the decay of Venice. Although being from 1970, this movie has surprisingly resisted to time and remains absolutely updated. Even the costumes are not completely old fashioned, since they are classic and elegant. The marvelous soundtrack of Stelvio Cipriani is depressive but certainly one of the most beautiful in the cinema history. The first time I saw this movie was on 04 July 2003 in a VHS of poor quality of the sound (mono) and color. Now, on 15 August 2009, I have just watched again on DVD. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Anônimo Veneziano" ("Anonymous Venetian")

Note: On 15 Aug 2009 I saw this film again.

Note: On 17 May 2012 I saw this film again.

Note: On 06 Dec 2017 I saw this film again.

beautiful movie, amazing how the ugly present( filmed in the fall -a decaying, dying Venice) contrasts with a bright, happy, past( filmed in the summer). Musante and Bolkan are great, running the whole gamut of emotions from whispers to screams, from laughter to tears, from sarcasm and blunt wickedness to compassion and love. one more thing. the music. morbidly beautiful.

don't see the English version, try to find the Italian one( both actors sound a lot more convincing in Italian-could be the accent). hopefully this can be digitally remastered, as the sound and the color really spoil the picture.

If you liked this one, try also Bobby Deerfield, somewhat similar.

for me, one of the special films. maybe, the most special. maybe, because its trace across memory is a ball of emotions, states, revelations, soft and bitter poetry, because it is a love story who, for long time, could represent , for me, the love story of my parents, for Venice who has a veil of surrealism , for the great music, off course. a film like a refuge. because , viewing it, you has the impression to escape by the time. it is not easy, or fair , to explain. but after you see it, it exists the feel to be part of an experience. sad, strange, dark, profound bitter. but an experience who defines you. so, a special film. for dialogues, for refined poetry of images, for the silence moments. and for something who, after decades, remains a precious secret.

A beautiful film that made a great impression on me at a very early age. Although basically it is a love story, it has many other emotions which are wonderfully portrayed by Florinda Balkan and Tony Musante. Apart from the story, the theme music haunted me for months if not years. The photography of Venice is superb and will be appreciated by anyone who has ever visited there.

One of the most romantic films ever made and that still bears the pass of time despite some camera cliches of the 70's. Venice at its best is the setting for a poignant story of lovers parting for ever in a day's time. Sensitive and powerfully emotional, but never corny, with Musante and Bolkan as passional as you may wish lovers can be. A wonderful soundtrack and a beautiful cinematography help to make this film be a delight thirty-two years after it was made. Not to be missed.