Cinecittà Dossier

dossier

10/2/2005

The Merchant of Venice

[by Cristiana Paternò]

The work of the English playwright Shakespeare has been one of the prolific sources of screenplays for the cinema. More than 30 films have been made from his works, a mixture of adaptations and classics from Zeffirelli to Baz Luhrmann. Now its Michael Radfords turn. He directed Massimo Troisis last film, Il Postino, and has now added his own The Merchant of Venice to the long list of Shakespearian films. This is an international co-production involving the Istituto Luce, Edwige Fenech and Luciano Martino. The film was shown at Venice, out of competition and there was great a long round of applause as the end titles rolled in Sala Grande. Tonight therell be a big party at the Dukes Palace, with a renaissance style dinner for 300 carefully selected guests in the presence of the Italian culture minister, Urbani as well as the Prince of Luxembourg, whose country was used as a location for part of the shooting, with the external shots being shot in and around Venice itself.

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