Cinematheque: Visconti's The Leopard

Set in 1860s Sicily, this chronicle of the decline of an aristocratic family under the crushing weight of political change was originally released in a drastically-cut and poorly-dubbed version. Now Digitally restored to its original glory, this new 35mm print of Visconti's uncut widescreen masterpiece is a sumptuous feast for the eyes. Featuring some of the most riveting set pieces ever captured on film, The Leopard provided a great deal of visual inspiration for Coppola’s Godfather trilogy.