Fellini's Casanova (Il Casanova di Federico Fellini) is a 1976 Italian surrealist erotic drama film directed by Federico Fellini. It is (very loosely) adapted from the autobiography of famous 18th century Venetian adventurer and writer Giacomo Casanova, played by Donald Sutherland. It also starred Tina Aumont, Cicely Browne, Carmen Scarpitta and Clara Algranti. As with most Fellini films, Nino Rota composed the soundtrack.
It depicts Casanova's life as a journey into sexual abandonment, but presents his adventures in a detached, methodical and somewhat dream-like fashion, as the respect for which he yearns is constantly undermined by the need to satisfy his more... "basic" urges.
Costume designer Danilo Donati won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work on the film.
Fellini's Casanova contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bungled Suicide: Casanova attempts suicide by drowning in a river out of another Unrequited Love, then he's interrupted when he sees three people walking on the river bank (which turns out to be the very tall Angelina and the two dwarves accompanying her) and decides to follow them.
- The Casanova: Deconstructed. Even though it is about the life of the Trope Namer, it depicts such a life as empty for its protagonist.
- Comically Inept Healing: Bloodlettings are regularly performed on the young Anna Maria and are, of course, ineffective.
- Creator Thumbprint: The dream-like feel throughout, the Grotesque Gallery and the freakshow with the giantess firmly identify the picture as a Fellini film.
- The Dandy: Casanova tries to be one anytime he's at a party, but he still looks the manliest at said parties.
- Epic Movie: It's the most expensive movie Fellini had worked on, with big sets, lavish costumes and a 155 minutes duration.
- The Freakshow: Mixed with Gladiator Games. Angelina is exhibited in arm wrestling contests and cage gladiator fights.
- Giant Woman: Angelina. She was played by Sandy Allen
, the Real Life tallest woman in the world at the time at 7 feet 7 inches (231 cm) tall. - Good with Numbers: Casanova pretends to be a good accountant.
- Grotesque Gallery: In true Fellini fashion, many of the other male guests of the dinners Casanova attends are generally ugly. The one that stands out is the Marquis Du Bois, played by Daniel Emilfork, who really Looks Like Orlok, specially when he shows off his teeth during his dance number.
- In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It: Fellini's name was added to the title to differentiate it enough from the 1969 Casanova film of Luigi Comencini (full title Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence). It also emphasizes that it's Fellini's own vision of the man's life and not your average biopic.
- It's Always Mardi Gras in New Orleans: It's partly set in Venice, so of course the Carnival is featured. Right at the beginning in this case, with the Doge opening the festivities.
- Lewd Lust, Chaste Sex: Casanova's lust is there, but the movie's depictions of sex are surprisingly chaste.
- Little People Are Surreal: Angelina is always accompanied by two dwarfs, and the whole movie basks in Fellini's own brand of surreal.
- Locked in the Dungeon: Casanova is locked in a cell by the Inquisition after being arrested. From there he starts reminiscing of his past adventures.
- Naughty Nuns: The first woman Casanova has sex with in the film is a nun.
- The Peeping Tom:
- The nun's other lover (the French ambassador in Venice) watches her frolics with Casanova through a hole in a fish fresco's eye at the beginning.
- Casanova peeps on Angelina as she takes a bath with the two dwarves in her tent.
- Really Gets Around: Casanova, who else? It's very much a compulsive urge for him, though he doesn't seem to get much pleasure out of it.
- Right Through His Pants: While outer garments are removed, characters often wear underwear, night shirts and other garments that cover then during the sex scenes.
- Scenery Porn: The sets of Venice are pretty lavish.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: Don't expect to see much more than butt shots (which were an obsession of Fellini).
- Statuesque Stunner: Casanova is attracted to the (very tall) Angelina.
- Stylistic Suck: When Casanova is at sea on a rowing boat, it's painfully obvious that the water is made of dark plastic bags that are animated with fans. The film's opening in a recreated Venice clearly indicates they had at least one water pool available.
- Subverted Trope:
- Fellini took the hopes of all those who are tempted to watch this film expecting it to be an epic Erotic Film and threw them out the window to tell another kind of tale.
- It's a Period Piece and a sorta biopic, but not one that concerns itself with any sort of accuracy or academism.
- Unrequited Love: Casanova is really convinced that he loves Henriette. After their night together, she simply leaves without warning him.
- Witch Hunt: About twenty minutes into the film, Casanova is arrested and condemned by the Inquisition for "black magic", for generating "heretic crisis" and for owning "damned books". Most of it due to his promiscuous behavior.
- World's Strongest Man: Gender Flip. When in England, Casanova bumps into Angelina, a very tall and very strong woman who's nicknamed "the strongest woman in the world". The latter claim is not unfounded, as she easily beats everyone at arm wrestling and curb-stomps everyone at her Gladiator Games freakshow.
