Elective Affinities

What were the Taviani's doing in the Summer of 1996? Dozing off with a glass of Chianti Classico and a copy of Lucio Gaudino's "Adelaide" on a portable Video Recorder to 'inspire' them on the shoot of this drab, lifeless,un-inspired period piece? "Adelaide" was shot 5 years earlier, on a shoestring (with breadcrumbs from the Italian State Film Funds) and was directed by a Mr. Nobody. It too was inspired by a period Novel, not Goethe, but a 'minor' French Novelist, I believe. Goethe wouldn't 'turn in his grave' over the Taviani's treatment to his masterpiece... Yes he WOULD turn over and go to sleep, maybe muttering a German phrase of disgust. Darlings of the institutions, it appears the Taviani's will continue to find funds for such lame efforts in the coffers of Italy's political parties. The film is a 'rip off'. It's French protagonist,( usually riveting), is strangely absent, a very pale copy of Assumpta Serna, "Adelaide"'s mesmerizing ageing beauty with a caustic brilliance. Gaudino's small jewel of a film is beautifully shot, well acted, and respects the 'feel' of the epoch. Anyone attracted to such material, (and deluded by the Taviani mess) should take the time, and trouble to track down 'the real Mc Coy! Buona Visione!