This is the first film directed by Anton Giulio Bragaglia, a pioneer in Futurism photography and cinema Futurism was a mostly Italian artistic movement, emphasizing contemporary concepts of the future. The film's prologue states that it includes images by Futurist painters to strengthen the classic narrative in order to evoke in the viewer stronger emotions than those created by mere film images.
The film contrasts naturalist outdoor views of horse riding, horse carriages and motor cars, in particular a car crossing a river on a small ferry, with indoor views with sets designed by renowned Futurist painter Enrico Prampolini. As the film progresses and Thaïs becomes more and more irrational, the geometric and symbolic motives of the sets take an increasing importance and the film becomes almost abstract.
See further analysis and a link to the full film at:
a-cinema-history.blogspot.com/2013/12
