UW Cinematheque - Special Presentations

Cast: Pina Menichelli, Febo Mari, Felice Minotti. Menichelli is one of the cinema’s first femmes fatales as a mysterious poetess who casts her spell over a naive painter. Passion ignites swiftly, only to collapse into madness and ruin, as desire gives way to obsession. Responsible for the legendary historical epic Cabiria, director Giovanni Pastrone (using a pseudonym) masterfully distills the melodrama of Il fuoco (“The Fire”) to an intense dance of seduction.