Vanina Vanini

Rare Rossellini! This sumptuous, extravagant adaptation of a short story by Stendhal, set during Italy’s 19th century Risorgimento (“Resurgence”, or unification movement), won praise for its historical accuracy and was designed as a showcase for the actress Sandra Milo. Vanina Vanini opens in 1823, during the time of the papal conclave to choose a successor to the late Pope Pius VII. Milo is titular Vanina, a bored, spoiled young princess who gets caught in a conflicting web of politics, family loyalties and passion after she falls in love with an anti-papist revolutionary (Laurent Terzieff). The latter is wounded and in hiding after an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate a traitor to his cause. Vanina makes the fateful decision to accompany him when he leaves to rejoin his comrades. The film was originally released in English-speaking markets as The Betrayer. "This excursion into period politics and romance richly evokes the conflicts and contradictions of the time. Rossellini uses colour to brilliant effect and his handling of several different strands of action is admirable. Social inequality, religious and political corruption, intrigue, guilt and betrayal are everywhere palpable in this high romance of the Risorgimento" (Bloomsbury Foreign Film Guide). Colour, 35mm, in Italian with English subtitles. 118 mins.