1900

A sprawling Italian epic that begins on the first day of the 20th century and concludes at the end of WWII. The film follows two men born on January 1, 1900: the son of a wealthy landowner (Robert De Niro) and the son of a tenant farmer (Gérard Depardieu). Through their stories, Bertolucci explores the roots, conflicts, and growth of Italian society—in which Socialism and Fascism are fierce rivals. It is no secret that this great Italian director was fascinated by poetry, and this operatic masterpiece is one of the most poetic films produced in the 1970s. With extraordinary precision, Bertolucci combines historical-political themes and visual momentum achieved mainly through Vitorrio Stararo’s magnificent cinematography. A newly restored version that debuted at the latest Venice FF.