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Alexandre Volkoff’s Casanova (1927): Text, myth, film
- Source: Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, Volume 11, Issue Intersections between Italian and Slavic Cinemas, Jun 2023, p. 521 - 534
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- 30 Nov 2021
- 28 Mar 2022
- 07 Jun 2023
Abstract
Alexander Volkoff’s acclaimed silent masterpiece Casanova (1927) is an excellent example of the many links between Italian and Russian cultures: this international super-production, led by a group of Russian émigrés, is based on the memoirs of a famous Venetian, and shot largely in Venice. While the film’s production history is relatively well studied, little has been written on the relationship between the film and the text on which it is based. This article aims to fill in this gap. It demonstrates that Volkoff’s Casanova, often considered to be merely a spectacular genre film, actually offers a subtle reading of Giacomo Casanova’s autobiography. Volkoff’s Casanova both illustrates myths and stereotyped images linked to the famous adventurer and subtly questions them. It also highlights the contradictory nature of the character, reproducing many of the oppositions which underlie the original text of the memoirs.