12 registi per 12 città

Antonioni films great monuments and sights in Rome, ending up at the roof of the Cistene chapel in Vaticano. He films it so beautifully that, at an art gallery screening, you almost forget that this is essentially a tourism film.

It is a rare treat to see such beautiful celluloid expended on just sight-seeing. But, having been to Rome, i know the sights really deserve seeing!

This is really Antonioni's passion. He probably enjoyed making this much more than he enjoyed making La Notte (which was all about character).

But I personally wish Antonioni wouldn't spend his time filming other people's great works of art instead of making the next Blowup - but he's 83 at time of writing, and that's how he did choose to spend it, so we have to just savour those few features he did make.

The 12 directors who helmed the segments in this commercial tourism documentary promoting 12 Italian cities are doing quick commissioned work and are not really given an opportunity to express their personal styles, but the resulting portmanteau is an irresistible potpourri of beautiful art , pleasing music, and colorful scenic views. And it is great to be reminded of a number of the top notch filmmakers who were all still at work at the time in that country's great industry. My favorite segment is Torino, an industrial city which is not usually thought of as a top tourist attraction.Veteran "calligraphic" auteur Mario Soldati is our guide, and he points out the hidden surprises in his city. It is wonderful to see and hear this maestro in person. It is also curious that Venezia, one of the two top Italian tourist destinations, is not covered but instead we get portraits of less frequented places like: Bari, Cagliari, and Udine. There are large parts of this largely visual tour guide that don't have either dialogue or commentary, so if you can't find a subtitled copy you will still be able to enjoy a lot. Buon viaggio!