13/08/2013 - Made by the Veneto-based director Massimiliano Zanin, Istintobrass reveals the most hidden sides of Italy’s erotic cinema maestro

A new title has been added to the Venezia Classici line-up, a selection of restored film and documentary classics at the 70^th edition of the Venice Film Festival (28 August-7 September): Istintobrass, a docufilm on the life of Italy’s erotic cinema maestro Tinto Brass (photo), directed by Veneto director Massimiliano Zanin, his directing assistant and screenwriter for over ten years.

Written by Zanin, Caterina Varzi (the director’s new muse) and Brass himself, who also took part in the search for never before seen footage and the choice of actors and film critics interviewed, the documentary tells the story of a surprising Tinto. It ranges from his formative years in Paris at the Cinématèque Francaise next to Roberto Rossellini, Henri Langlois and Joris Ivens with other young filmmakers like Bresson, Godard, Truffaut at the dawn of the Nouvelle Vague, to his return to Italy where he produced his first master pieces Chi lavora è perduto, La vacanza, L'urlo and Col cuore in gola. 

Tinto is revealed as a political man, his filming is anarchic, innovative, experimental and full of linguistic inventions. Thanks to the testimonials of four big film critics, the documentary brings back to life a type of cinema that has almost been forgotten before delving into the filmmaker’s private life, including his special relationship with his wife Tinta as well as many other actors he worked with.  

Films examining power such as Salon Kitty and Io, Caligola and erotic cinema basics like La Chiave gave him immense success with international audiences including today’s Brass and its iconographic voyeuristic pleasure. This was engraved in the public imaginary with stories by Gigi Proietti, Oscar winning Helen Mirren, fetish actor Franco Branciaroli, Serena Grandi, Franco Nero Oscar winning set designer Ken Adam. The film was produced by Think’o Film + Wave.

(Translated from Italian)