Cinema Italia, fashion and the French connection

Thanks to my father’s interest in browsing through the culture of a place by its television channels, I chanced upon some pleasant old Italian films on ‘Telecapri’.

It made me think of the French and Italian films I had chanced upon or recollect snippets of. The wonderful humorous, sensual and morally liberal but balanced films of Italian cinema.

The French Connection in similar genre films of the past were the subtle contrast, muted colours, dress, colour of light and skill portrayal of the beauty of a woman - ‘Rigatza Bellissimo’. Most fascinating was their ability to communicate clearly without me comprehending the language.

Every depiction of the leading lady was visually romantic and sensual when intended. Detailed attention to hairstyles and faces to define the characters amazed me. The scenes where the ladies were shown passionately, had enough to see, but enough left to want to imagine and fantasize rather than watch porn crassly depicting elaborate sex scenes. I was immediately reminded of the crude and sexual illustrations of American and at times Indian cinema, unfortunately encouraging “cheap”* entertainment.

Two things struck me. One that this style of portrayal, subtlety and simplicity of subject seem to be a returning trend, visible in ads and some films, definitely in most high quality photography. That said, there are a few distinct, striking approaches by some fashion photographers today, which stand out in their own individual way.

However, on the whole, the shift suggests a possible overload in the past on the eyes and mind which can be pacified the simple yet ornate and elaborately thought out portrayals like that of Somerset Maugham.

The second thing that struck me was the love and affectionate nature inherently associated with French and Italians from where such beautifully balanced cinema hails from. It was a step into the past to look for it, but Rosselini, Fellini, Godard and Truffaut are wonderful examples of ‘auteurs’ of films recognized by film critics/aficionados around the world. A little more scrounging would dig up many local directors working with similar abilities to create beautifully balanced cinema.

The terminology to describe the crew is also intriguing, it almost encourages them to be more a part of the film process and final outcome. Directors who are authors or ‘auteurs’ of their film, and ‘translatoris’ or translators of the film, the role played by the actors.

The magic and love reminded me a little of Wong Kar Wai, and his sometimes slightly complex themes dealt with simply and surreally.

Thinking of magic created in cinema by the films from the Balkan region, I was introduced to by Rada Sesic in Srishti School of Art and Design in Bangalore. A name that stood out when thinking of ‘magic realism’ was Emir Kusturica. But more about all that in another note, some other time in the future.

*“cheap” – using less intellect, less skill, less consideration to the impact on the viewer and sometimes costing less (but not guaranteed)

Tags: Telecapri, Cinema, Italy, Italia, fashion, French, connection, beauty, woman, Rigatza, Bellissimo, Emir Kusturica, Rada Sesic, Srishti School, Art and Design, Bangalore, Wong Kar Wai, magic, realism, humorous, sensual, moral, liberal, balanced, Rosselini, Fellini, Godard, Truffaut, Somerset, Maugham, photographers, today, American, Indian, unfortunately, encouraging, cheap, entertainment, language, porn, crude, sexual illustrations, elaborate, dress, colour, light, subtle, detail