Senso (1954)

Directed by

Luchino Visconti

Genre

drama film, romance film

Country

Italy

Runtime

2h 06m

Rated

18

Rating

7.2 of 10 from 253 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

During the Third Italian War of Independence, an Italian countess begins a passionate affair with an Austrian lieutenant. Their relationship strains her political loyalties and leads to personal ruin.

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What happens

Senso is a 1954 Italian historical melodrama film directed and co-written by Luchino Visconti, based on Camillo Boito's novella of the same name. Set during the Third Italian War of Independence, the film follows the Italian Contessa Livia Serpieri (Alida Valli), who has an affair with the Austrian Lieutenant Franz Mahler (Farley Granger). It was Visconti's first color film. The word senso [ˈsɛn.so] is Italian for "sense," "feeling," or "lust." The title refers to the delight Livia experiences while reflecting on her affair with a handsome lieutenant, in spite of her political convictions. In 2008, the film was included on the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s 100 Italian films to be saved, a list of 100 films that "have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978." (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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