Post by petrolino on May 2, 2021 1:17:49 GMT
I have to stop and praise this release from Nucleus Films after criticising them for their exclusive release, 'Attack Of The Adult Man Babies' (2017).
The restoration of novelist Pasquale Festa Campanile's seriocomic drama 'The Libertine' looks almost flawless to my eyes, it's a beautiful print that's been sourced and dutifully restored. There's some exceptional extras to boot with Kat Ellinger and Rachael Nisbet doing fine work for yet another dvd distributor while helping to keep practical media alive. We're blessed here in the U K to have voices like their's as their passion, dedication, knowledge and insight readily flows from the speakers, in my opinion.
Amazingly, there's erotic paintings in this movie that have been quite beautifully blurred out using bright optical effects, so they almost look like deliberate fantasy elements. Was this for legal reasons? Ellinger's commentary track is fascinating and the best I've listened to so far this year. I now want to see 'Check To The Queen' (1969) so I've added it to my list, alongside Campanile's 'The Sex Machine' (1975) which is out of print and remains a holy grail item for me - no doubt, Ellinger is simply a massive fan of Campanile's work.
"When considering the idea of libertinism, the Marquis de Sade is one of the first historical figures that comes to mind. A libertine is potentially radical, although this could have positive and negative connotations. One who strives to satisfy any and all sexual urges may appear to be “liberated,” in some respects, but in light of actions that involve more than one person, a power dynamic is always created and violation of one by another is a common risk. In our contemporary moment libertinism is almost impossible unless the transgressor’s life is ruined by his actions (as libertines are almost always male), but even in the eighteenth century–the time of Sade–such a lifestyle was still difficult to follow even with aristocratic privileges. Indeed, the Marquis spent a good amount of time in jail, partially because of sexual indiscretions involving violence, (accidental) poisoning, and exploitation. However, Sade remained in prison far longer than his crimes called for, just as much because of the ideas and writings the fellow had which were considered dangerous. Thus, in actuality true libertinism can only exist or thrive in imaginary worlds brought forth by fantasy, creativity, and desire. The cinema is a perfect medium for these things."
- Joseph E. Dwyer, Diabolique
