the "character" of Venice

[acroyear]

There are films where the location is as much a character of the film as the actors portray, if not more so.  The Fisher King's portrayal of NYC is one example, as is Ratatouillie's impressionist presentation of Paris.  A favorite example of the setting as character is the U.S.S. Nimitz in The Final Countdown - say what you will about the cheesy plot or the action flight sequences, the SHIP is the real star of that film and performs beautifully.

Venice is certainly a setting that has no choice but to intrude itself into the films it is featured in - the character always comes through no matter how it is shown.  Films I have that include it are the two recent Casanova's (Tennant and Ledger), iJones 3, and some beautiful footage of the 4th Crusade portion of the Doge's Ball from Carnivale (if I ever get rich, we'll be at this ball - already have the costumes and bought masks that match them beautifully), featured in the Terry Jones Crusades documentary. 

Plus, of course, Venice as a character is the whole point of Dangerous Beauty.

So now that I've just about fallen in love with the place (the only other times that has happened has been Cape Breton Island and the Highlands of Scotland, so this is new in falling for a place that is not part of my cultural & ethnic heritage), what other films are worth seeing for seeing Venice as Venice?

(btw, 2 weeks, 20+ gig on 8 memory cards between 2 cameras including lots of short videos which my camera can do - it'll take me some time to pull them off though i'll try and get a few highlights up today...)

Comments

NOT

[kitteblue.livejournal.com]

League of Extrodinary Gentlemen will make you fall off the couch laughing or break the TV depending on your mood. It's the worst portrayal of Venice EVER.

Re: NOT

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

i've seen it (my parents have it) and i certainly know what you're talking about. i like the idea behind League (in terms of 19th century fictional characters being written in comic form), but the film certainly sucked outside of a few jokes and some nifty effects (everywhere BUT Venice). I just treated the whole thing as comic book fiction and ignored the fact that it was supposed to be "Steampunk" Venice.

not least of which you couldn't get a "smart car" to fit down the alleys of that place, nevermind a 10 foot cigarette car.

Re: NOT

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

I was about to say the same thing. About the worst part of that film.