Valerio l'amoroso
 

PostED ON 18.10.2023

Valerio Zurlini as seen by a woman, documentary filmmaker Sandra Marti; an obvious choice, given the Italian director's commitment to female-themed cinema. 

Valerio Zurlini peintre des sentiments, 2023 © DR

Who was he?

Valerio Zurlini was the Italian film-maker of the second half of the 20th century who often filmed the passions of young characters. Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Louis Trintignant and especially Jacques Perrin were the stars of Zurlini's rare cinema. His stories revolved around the emotion of love, always devoured by political, societal or historical adversity.

The approach

This documentary focuses on testimonials through meetings with those who knew Zurlini, and those who offer an analysis of his work, restoring its great importance.

Highlights

Actress Sonia Petrovna, who played the unforgettable Vanina in Indian Summer with Alain Delon, remembers the  "despondent" side of Zurlini. "It was an adventure. You had to look for ‘the things that aren't said’". Further on: "I try to use a lot of what the actors give me... a cough, a drag on a cigarette, the most insignificant gesture...", says the voice of Zurlini, in an audio interview that reveals some of the secrets of his extraordinary direction of actors. This voice lends a very moving authenticity to this documentary, to remember a filmmaker who, as it is explained at one point, "always saw the world through a frame".  

V. A.

SCREENING

Valerio Zurlini peintre des sentiments by Sandra Marti (Documentary, 2023, 52min)
Institut Lumière (Villa) – Wednesday, 18 October at 9am