The Anonymous Venetian (1970) User Reviews

A Melancholic and Beautiful Romance with a Marvelous Soundtrack

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 4 July 2003]

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.

Concerto for oboe and strings

[jotix100 · 6/10 · 11 September 2009]

Enrico, a Venetian musician and composer, is seen, as the story begins, awaiting for Valeria, his estranged wife at the railway station. He buys red roses to greet her with, but thinks twice about them and throws them away before her train arrives. When they meet, Valeria asks him why has he summoned her to Venice, a city where they met, were happy, got married, had a son, and was the scene of their acrimonious split. He advises her that in due time he will tell her.

Thus begins a sort of a ballet where Enrico and Valeria are the partners of an extended 'pas de deux' throughout Venice, that magical city as a backdrop. In a way, it is a travelogue where most of the places they once new are revisited as we get to know the real reason behind Enrico's invitation: he is dying of a mysterious disease. Valeria wants to stay and help, but he reminds her she is now living in Ferrara with their son, Giorgio, and the wealthy industrialist that is now her real partner. Divorce did not exist in Italy at the time when the story takes place. As a parting souvenir, Enrico brings Valeria to the church of San Vitale where he is recording the work that lends its name for the title of the film.

"Anonimo veneziano" was considered one of the most romantic movies of that era. Time has not been kind to the film though. Enrico Maria Salerno, the director who co-wrote the screenplay, wanted to draw a parallel, perhaps, juxtaposing the moribund city with a real dying man. European directors favor that type of moody cinema making, in which they placed lovers doing long walks with artistic backgrounds. Mr. Salerno's style follows that pattern as he makes Enrico and Valeria walk all over town once again. The real star of the film is Venice. Much of the exchange between Enrico and Valeria go from rage to tenderness in seconds. They even act in a civilized manner, even making love for old time sake!

Tony Musante, a reliable American actor, was at his prime when the film was made. He worked a lot in the Italian cinema and never feels out of place. His Enrico is a complex man trying to deal with a horrible situation. Florinda Bolkan, who is Brazilian, made a name for herself in Italy. Her Valeria shows that in spite of her tough exterior, she still has feelings for her former husband.

Marcello Gatti, the cinematographer, captures the Venice most tourists don't get to see. His camera stays in those out of the way places that show a city without the crowds that make walking such a pleasure. Stelvio Cipriani's music is melodious; it serves the narrative well as it almost feels like a modern video in which the images illustrate the song. This is a film with a lot of style, but not much substance.

Unlucky ones in Venice

[curt-hagerklo · 6/10 · 27 April 2021]

The benefit of this film is Venice itself with it's beauty and decay. The story, common as it is, is almost too tragic to be displayed in these surroundings. But there are highlights, the musical parts and the scene in the weavery, where the woman lives up among all the fantastic fabric, made with ancient ooms. But the acting, what can you say, at best it's restrained, the angry parts are exaggerated and overexploited by at least the male actor.

Based on a thirty two year old memory.

[jill-104 · 10/10 · 31 October 2003]

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.

The most romantic movie for hopelessly romantic individuals.

[jmickleby · 10/10 · 15 January 2020]

Hopefully you will get the Italian version with subtitles.

Some people say this movie is about a dying musician. I disagree. This movie is all about humanity, and the errors we make in our youth.

If we could have recorded every minute when we fell in love , every gesture, every smile and every Kiss, then maybe we wouldnt have to remind ourselves why we fell so deeply in love.

In this case the musician has a terminal disease, however life in its immense sarcasm and cruelty, reminds him , and the love of his life, how small and stupid as a species we are. And how , so many small mistakes lead to desperation and sadness.

The astonishingly beautiful scenery, the most romantic music, the live drama are just perfect. Its European cinema at its best. No need for special effects or expensive sets. The city itself provides everything needed. Pure acting is all that is required, and both actors deliver superb performances.

It is the type of movies that shakes depressed souls and hopelessly romantic individuals like myself. Life can be beautiful one moment yet tremendously cruel the next. Lets not give it a chance to destroy us earlier than necessary. It is a fact of life, though , eventually we will all end up alone, miserable with just our memories.

A must for couples that want to rescue their love. And a warning for the rest of mortals so they dont fall down into the well of total and inconsolable desperation.

ps. Never visit Venice in the summer. Wait for the fall, or winter, you will fall in love with the unforgettable city like no other.

special

[Kirpianuscus · 30 July 2017]

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.

At least you can take a good look at Venice

[dierregi · 5/10 · 6 April 2021]

The best thing about this movie is Venice, shown in its less touristy, more intimate corners. Main characters Valeria and Enrico walk their way through the whole city without a specific reason, except promoting the city for your next holiday.

Still relatively young and attractive, Valeria and Enrico look more like brother and sister, with the same square jaws, abundant dark hair and cold stare, but they're actually married. In fact, they split up seven years previously but divorce was not legal in Italy until 1974, therefore they are still married, although Valeria lives with another man.

Enrico asked Valeria to come to Venice for mysteryour reasons which he seems reluctant to divulge and while they walk and talk, they have the time to reminisce about their happy past in the city. Unfortunately, their conversation has nothing of the fluidity of movies such "Before sunrise". Enrico seems mean spirited and Valeria mostly angry.

Looks like the split was caused by Enrico's infidelities, but he's resentful and jealous of Valeria and she's still "in love" with him (whatever that may means) despite acknowledging that her present life makes her feel safer. Putting it bluntly, they seems two people stuck with sexual attraction and incapable to understand each other beyond stereotypical male-female roles.

Add the "incurable sickness" and the overbearing soundtrack and you have the grown-up version of Love Story, the "dying young" theme that was so popular in the 70s. Some say "very 70s" feeling nostalgic. Me... not so much.

Great movie, pure 70's style

[cerbu · 10/10 · 19 April 2005]

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.

Street walk video with toxic relationship frame

[averagedeveloper · 2/10 · 2 November 2023]

The movie caught my eye in the list of successful cinematography. I wondered what kind of work they produced in 1970 that impressed with its cinematography. The successful use of the camera is immediately felt on the streets of Venice. I gave the extra 2 points solely because of the ambience captured by the film. My thoughts about the plot of the film went through three stages. At first, I thought it wasn't interesting, it was bland and I would get bored. In the second stage, it seemed like they had achieved sincerity and realism in the relationships and dialogues between the characters. It gave me hope for the movie. At the last stage, I started to realize what exactly the movie was and where the plot was heading. The film focuses on a toxic relationship and romanticizes it. The film also romanticizes the male character who is the source of the toxicity in the relationship. This is the main product that movies sell. I don't appreciate this kind of storytelling.

A gem

[celso1 · 10/10 · 22 April 2003]

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.

Love: Mankind's biggest fear

[mdefranc · 9/10 · 3 March 2010]

What we see here is a rather strong, yet very human, representation of how love truly operates in many people's lives: It sinks its claws into one's essence, making him/her or both leery about what such love could bring and how it could evolve itself. I'm talking about fear, fear of abandonment, being cognizant of the fact that, unfortunately, many situations do not last forever.

The above comment was by me laid out mimicking Enrico's cynicism, not only because of his terminal disease, but due to his awareness of what explained above. Their love explodes, rather than blossoming, a true love I shall say, the love two persons are ready to promise to each other no matter what the odds in life may be. Unluckily for many, such drive (which was not sexual on either side in my opinion) walks its path along with an unwanted travel mate, fear, which deals its lethal blows to a lot of relationships due to past wounds and human vulnerability.

Valeria, notwithstanding her "so-called" new life, shows her devotion to Enrico throughout the entire movie, accepting his behavior, knowing what that really means, knowing that he was acting out of pain, sorrow and FEAR. After all. at one point in the movie, as he angrily throws his briefcase up in the air after disclosing his doom to Valeria, Enrico does say "All of this is happening and I should not be scared?".

Through Salerno's camera, Tony Musante portrays, via his character, the filth and mud he says Venice is made of, a city that sank in the water a very long time before; he admits, by way of his actions and words, to have become part of that squalid scene.

Being human though also implies hope, current or lost that it may be, which we notice only once when he says "There's still a lot of poetry in life" before taking Valeria to purchase a brocade tailor made dress. I won't comment on his citation of Proust… Unlike (always in my opinion)Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani creates more of a one-to-one musical situation in the movies accompanied by its scores (e.g., L'ultima neve di primavera, Dov'è Anna et al), where the sounds, always rather somber, act as a narrator while the characters perform.

Musante and Bolkan were a perfect match, as their figures portray "Man and Woman", with every related quirk and problem, underpinned, however, by a love that will never end. Valeria realizes he really always loved her once it becomes obvious to her that he really needed to see her before dying, also when he prompts her to go before missing her last train to Ferrara. Sadly for her, the train she really missed had left Venice 7 years before from a track that only brought it back to her for a few hours that day only, to see it depart again, this time, toward a point of no return.

Valeria will carry on painfully, as she truly always loved Enrico.

Beautiful movie

[Ernesto-8 · 30 June 1999]

"Anonimo veneziano" is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. Musante and Bolkan are terrific in their roles. It deserves more than one look at it.

Intimate chamber music a due voci with an appeal to eternity

[clanciai · 10/10 · 4 April 2016]

One of those films which it almost hurts to see again, and still you can't see it many times enough. Already the second time you start crying from the beginning.

It's a very simple story of only two people meeting, talking, quarreling, discussing, trying to come to terms with themselves and with a horrible destiny, that is the very epitome of injustice.

I have never seen any of these actors before nor ever heard of the director. It's one of those unique masterpieces that appear suddenly in a flash of dazzling brightness - to never be repeated.

As they talk and wander around Venice their story is gradually revealed by their natural talk and flashbacks, which amounts to a terrific build-up of tragedy that can leave no one unmoved.

The beauty of the film becomes the more overwhelming for the enchantment of the Venetian environment and, above all, the music. After hearing only the first bars you'll remember it forever and always keep returning to it.

Tony Musante makes the best of the musician trying to keep up appearances with a spotless facade at any cost no matter the total adversity, but the quiet inexpressibility of Florinda Bolkan is the more impressing for her supreme self control, as if she was constantly furious hiding the inner fire as well as a sleeping volcano. Her stone face is so serious, that when finally she reveals a smile it outshines the whole tragedy - together with the constant flashbacks of the supreme beauty and freshness of their youth.

Strangely enough, Visconti's masterpiece "Death in Venice" was made almost simultaneously, both appeared in 1970, but this small gem totally outshines the more pretentious Visconti classic.

It's like a short story by Chekhov comprising a universe of feelings and drama in a moment's brief revelation of the worst problems and complexities of human existence.

You'll just melt and can say no more.

like a puzzle

[Vincentiu · 2 February 2013]

in my case, not exactly a movie. only slice of my childhood. mixture of magic and delicate colors. music as shadow. Venise as large tomb - nest. it is something special with this film. with its touching beauty. with its image of letter from a lost time. with two actors who are jewelers of common strange roles. a love story, broken love story, in a place as map of soul. the escape - a musical score. words, past - Venice as huge labyrinth of memories - and the harsh circle of fall. all as pieces from an old toy of dreams dust. I do not know if it is a good film. it seems be like many others of its period. but, different. for the crumbs of sufferance as fruit of deep joy. for the search of sense who define each character. for soft victory. and, for ash of feelings - part of new kind of beginning.

Original and under-recognized works

[sun-o2 · 9/10 · 24 October 2020]

"Anonimo Veneziano" is the name of the oboe concerto, but perhaps he is referring to the protagonist or his wife. It's a very specific film that encapsulates the kind of marital rebirth depicted in "Viaggio in Italia" in a single day in Venice, but it's extremely disappointing that the film didn't get any more recognition than its theme song and the episodes surrounding it.

The performances of the two actors are excellent. This is not only because the two actors play the folds of the human psyche and the subtleties of human emotions with great finesse. They are wonderful in their own right. As actor-director, Enrique Maria Salerno narrows down the characters to an extremely abstract level. The fact that important characters (e.g., his two sons) only appear in dialogue is an example of this. It's as if they are the only two people who exist here in Venice. This is accentuated by the editing, where the landscape, cityscape and buildings are the focus of long shots, even though they are in the middle of the dialogue. We are forced to accept the sadness of the last sequence, but it is also directed at the end of the film's duration.

Morte a Venezia.

[ulicknormanowen · 8/10 · 1 July 2021]

Only two actors ,and it is much to their credit to sustain our interest throughout ;Florinda Bolkan was a beauty legend of the Italian cinema and American Tony Musante often worked in both country (notably in the excellent Dario Argento 's thriller "l'ucello dalle piume di cristallo"1967) .

It could be a mushy melodrama, it's a delicate treatment of the last day of a couple :they were married ,but even after divorce ,something remains who strangely looks like love ; not dwelling on the sordid side of live, the truth about the ex-husband is only revealed at the 50 th minute ( the pills and the injection disconcert the viewer though ).

It's a wandering through Venizia , Enrico taking his ex-wife to places when they were deeply in love ;and however ,he was not a faithful husband ,it's really a warts-and-all depiction(Enrico throws away the bouquet) inside a romantic journey through the past.

The parallel between dying Enrico and the town itself sinking and turning into silt has always been used , but here it's done in a tasteful way ;for a man without a future, who is afraid of dying in his sleep , clinging to memories is the only thing left to him ; the future is only this child , he won't see growing up, but who maybe will play his records (hence the gift ).

The music bears more than a distant resemblance to Francis Lai's score for "love story";as both movies were made at about the same time, it's probably a coincidence .

Sometimes Love Is Not Enough...

[jlallemand-55391 · 9/10 · 27 October 2023]

This is the story of a beautiful and passionate love that fell through the cracks of life.

I'm not going to review the story here. You must watch this movie which is geared towards those of us who are hopelessly romantic.

Let's say is a story of disappointments, stubbornness, sadness, and monotony. But behind all of these vicissitudes , is the story of a great love who became stubbornly impossible.

Every time I watch it I'm left with anger and melancholy. Life can be cruel sometimes. And this movie is no exception.

This movie has a gorgeous soundtrack, perfect scenery, and superb acting. It's very European even though the main protagonists come from the other side of the pond.