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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13751
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By the great kindness of a friend I have received a copy of Death in Venice, a film that made a great impression on me even before its release. It was a film that contained "the most beautiful boy in the world" after all.
So, tonight, I settled in to watch the film. I've been looking ofrward to it for ages and "gave it to myself as a treat".
It's astounding how little happens in the entire film! But the seeing of a beautiful boy across the room, the glances, the imagined or real returned glances - they were perfect. They are as I know me, as I know I behave when I see a beautiful boy. It's almost a desperation. Whatever else Visconti captured, that is something he captured to perfection.
What I found peculiar was the boy.
When the film first came out I fell in, well, not love, but in something, with Tadzio. I've found the image of Tadzio beautiful since then. I even bought a Breton fisherman's jersey just like the one in the film so that some of the beauty might rub off in a way.
I studied his face and his body in the film. And, heresy that it may be, I found him to be scrawny, though not in the swimsuit scenes, but I also found him simply not to be beautiful. The screen make-up did pretty well, and he has, when allowed to use it, a winning smile. But he is not beautiful, not exactly.
Now the image on the screen has not changed, so what has happened?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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This is the real Tadzio, a Polish boy called Wlayslaw Moes, who inspired Thomas Mann to write 'Death in Venice'.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Cameron
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 2008
Messages: 70
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I saw the film, too. It was a little slow, but I liked Tadzio. I like that look, blond, thin and young. He was maybe a little too young, but I still find him beautiful. Time has not treated him well, though.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13751
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Well, he sabotaged himself and his looks. That looks like the face of a heavy smoker. He is in a film currently, though, and has acted in films sometimes.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=57bKoHk09PY
Somewhat surreal and not a little scary.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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What I wondered was how, after all that swimming in salt water and in 1911, he kept his hair so nice.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Yes, It is indeed a good film and captures the moments well. It nearly did not get made as it was not the first choice at the time. Another book 'Lord Dismiss Us' by Michael Cambell was being considered and nearly got to signing but then the studio changed tack and went for the Thomas Mann book instead.
'Lord Dismiss Us' is out of print but can be found in online secondhand sources.
Paul Jamison
When it comes to movies I have a trunkload of odd facts and fancies... and a huge collection ....
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13751
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Lord Dismiss Us would have been far harder to do. And we'd have needed a kid with black hairs on his lower back!
I found it quite a tedious read when I rebought it a few years back. It was about 50% too long and not that well written. Still, I bought it from £1 and sold it for £10, so I can't complain.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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