THE LEOPARD
DIRECTOR: LUCHINO VISCONTI
ITALY, 1963
Recently restored to the original 35mm splendor achieved by its famed director of photography, Giuseppe Rotunno, THE LEOPARD translates Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s epic novel and the history it recounts into one of cinema’s grandest masterpieces. Visconti recreates, with nostalgia, drama, and opulence, the tumultuous years in the 1860s of Italy’s Risorgimento—when the aristocracy lost its iron grip and the middle classes rose and formed a unified, democratic Italy. Aging Sicilian prince Don Fabrizio (Burt Lancaster), seeing the waning fortunes of his aristocratic culture, places his bet on his ambitious and savvy nephew, Tancredi Falconeri (Alain Delon), as the family’s hope to continue its prestige, encouraging his marriage to the beautiful daughter (Claudia Cardinale) of a wealthy former peasant (Paolo Stoppa). “One of the greatest visual experiences in cinema.”—Martin Scorsese. “One of the most moving meditations on individual mortality in the history of cinema.” —Dave Kehr. (186 mins.)