Lady of the Camelias (1981)
"La storia vera della signora dalle camelie" (original title)

Director:

Mauro Bolognini

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas fils (based on the novel by), Jean Aurenche (scenario),

Stars:

Isabelle Huppert, Gian Maria Volonté, Bruno Ganz

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Huppert	...	Alphonsine Plessis
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Plessis
Bruno Ganz	...	Count Perregaux
Fabrizio Bentivoglio	...	Dumas son
Clio Goldsmith	...	Clemence
Mario Maranzana	...	Dumas father
Yann Babilée	...	Agenor
Carla Fracci	...	Marguerite Gauthier
Cécile Vassort	...	Henriette
David Jalil	...	Maxence
Piero Vida
Fabio Traversa	...	Priest
Remo Remotti
Mattia Sbragia
Clara Colosimo

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

courtesan | voyeurism | female nudity | female full frontal nudity | stockings | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

26 February 1981 (Italy)

Also Known As:

A Dama das Camélias

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Les Films du Losange, France 3 (FR 3)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of La traviata (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Petite créature"
Lyrics by Mauro Bolognini
Music by Ennio Morricone
Performed by Luciana Turina

User Reviews

The real Dame !

Some films achieve the inexplicable "art" status by being beautiful, true, as well as emotionally touching, independently of the actors, plot or cinematography. It's as if the film rose from its "material support" so to speak, and you could really see the film as close to how the artist intended it to be. This is one of those rare cases.

We all know the story, but in this case Huppert and the director Bolognini make this stand out from the rest. You will probably have strong feelings for Alphonsine, who plays with the bad cards life has given to her, from her pimp father to her ill health. IMDb reviewer Gerald A. DeLuca is right that there is a sort of "didactic" hammering on our main character spitting blood. Quibbles aside, this superb film is just perfect.

Psychoanalytically it also has interesting things to say, like Plessis treating her daughter like yet another man/ suitor at times, or when she goes to live to the rich man's palace, she is given his MOTHER's room (not his own).

Cinematography does help, as does montage (the scene with Alphonsine in ecstasy followed by the slaughterhouse where she drinks blood, for instance). Of course the classical score, based on Verdi's Traviata but also drawing from other sources, heightens the story. All the male characters become supporting ones compared to Huppert, but of course they are excellent. G. M. Volonté in particular. Wait and see.

Don't miss this film! Utterly enjoyable XIX century melodrama!