OSSESSIONE (1943) All Region

`Ossessione' was Visconti's first film - and what a classic he produced! He had of course learned much of his trade in the 1930s with Jean Renoir, but one is quite astounded at how masterfully he frames his shots and forges atmosphere in this film. Visconti was unquestionably a natural-born director with an eye for detail in both the technical and artistic matters of film-making. `Ossessione' is seen by some as the first of the Italian neo-realist movies with its richness to incidental detail and use of scenes and people incidental to the plot. And already Visconti is at home with large set pieces and long takes, such as the singing contest at Ancona.The story of Gino and Giovanna's illicit affair and their murder of Giovanna's husband - a story as old as history - was filmed in the Po delta region of Italy, a flat landscape of marshes and reeds - and long causeways on which traffic passes by the hostelry run by Giovanna and her husband. On a hot summer's day, the vagabond Gino happens to drop by, setting in motion the chain of events that will lead to more than one death. This is one film where the ending is made more effective by its very inconclusiveness.The erotic charge of the whole film is framed around Gino, and not Giovanna; indeed, we first only ever see a close-up of Gino's face through Giovanna's look of lust at first sight. This is not a gay movie, but there are - as usual with a Visconti film - strong homoerotic undertones. The character of the Spaniard, for instance, has an ambiguous sexuality, and some have seen him as Visconti's representative of the anti-Fascist. (The film was made in 1942.)The quality of the transfer to DVD is not always good, both visually and aurally (there is some hiss on the soundtrack), but the film is nevertheless very watchable. In his book on the director, Henry Bacon says that the original negative was seized by the Fascists so extant copies had to be made from a duplicate. Bacon sees the film as a basic conflict between the insecurity of freedom on the road and the security of societal confinement.The accompanying commentary is by David Forgacs (Professor of Italian at University College, London) and Lesley Caldwell (Associate Fellow in the Italian Department). They are not film historians, but what they have to say is both informative and insightful. The other extra is a short biography of Visconti.

This DVD is a HORROR! First (stupid me!) I assumed that since it was coming from the BFI it would be restored. What also made me think that is that the running time is listed as 02:20:00 (140 minutes).No, no, no! It is the exact same dark, scratchy and grainy version sold by Umbrella World Cinema (I bought a copy here a few years ago), with the exact same hard-coded English titles in grey boxes. And the running time is the exact same, to the second: 02:14:16. I thought it had been properly restored to the running time given for it on IMBb and Wikipedia.I actually found a Blu-ray of this masterwork of Italian cinema for sale at Amazon Japan. The sample shows a stunning restoration (it also has the same cover art as the BFI DVD which made me think the UK DVD was restored), but its running time is 02:06:56!The only advantage to the BFI edition is that a commentary track has been added.It’s difficult to believe that there exists no proper clean-up and restoration of this landmark film with its full running time of 2:20:00.Buy the cheapest one you can find - there seems to be no difference in who distributes it.

'Ossessione' was one of Visconti's early films, that alone is reason enough to watch this film. Not to mention that this adaption of 'The Postman always rings twice' came out around the same time as the American film starring Lana Turner. Seeing the two is a really interesting comparison. I heard about this film while watching an interview with Matthew Bourne about his inspirations for his show 'The Car Man', so I wanted to see it. I was not disappointed. The only problem with this purchase was that the disc had come loose but that could've happened while it was being posted rather than when it was being packed.

One of the most fantastic films ever.Delivery perfect

Received very promptly. DVD as expected

Great black & white film noir.

I've always enjoyed the story that spawned two Hollywood adaptations, largely laden with sex, written by James M Cain, both called The Postman Always Rings Twice'. The first film made of it was the French 'Le Dernier Tournament', in 1939.Luchino Visconti's debut feature, here, 'Ossessione' is accredited as being the first of the Italian 'Neorealism' movement. As is widely known, Mussolini's censors banned the film and the Fascists burned the original negative. Visconti saved a print from destruction and may explain why this transfer (the only one?) looks similar to films we usually associate with those of the mid-late 1920's, it being so poor.Not only grainy, it almost pops in and out of focus and has scratches permanently weaving over it. The film flickers with changing amounts of light. The sound isn't much better. Despite all these technical deficiencies it is always hugely watchable and ultimately enjoyable.Unlike those two Hollywood versions, that as I said were sexed-up, Visconti's PG certificate version is a lot more innocent and stops at kissing, which is still quite daring for its time. The rest of the story is filled up to its 140 minutes with Italian life, its people and culture, all vibrantly shot and revealed and so, marks a real contrast with the U.S versions.The three key actors, Massimo Girotti as the handsome drifter (later played by John Garfield & Jack Nicolson), Clara Calamai as the beautiful wife (later, by Lana Turner & Jessica Lange) and Juan de Landa, the husband (later Cecil Kellaway & John Colicos) - are all well cast and play their parts well.Apparently, it was the way that the working-class were portrayed, with loose morals that upset the Fascist censors. Thank goodness this didn't put off Visconti who later went on to make some of the most noted films in Italian film history, such as The Leopard and Death In Venice.