The film that moved and continues to move millions of viewers around the world
Anonimo veneziano has become part of cinema history. The tears shed by audiences have broken every record. Naturally, its resounding success attracted the ire of certain critics, who see it as melodramatic sentimentality driven to the extreme (the same was said of Matarazzo, whose talent is now recognised). The musical theme by Stelvio Cipriani is sumptuous and a bit dark (just like Venice, really), and was a hit all over the world, although several purists turned up their noses to it. Could it be that Anonimo veneziano is provocative because of its extreme simplicity, its incredible effectiveness, its refined visuals, and the fact that it speaks about life, death and love without philosophising over them? It was Enrico Mario Salerno’s first film as director, and he never again equalled the impact that this film made. Proof that the recipe for success isn’t easy, and certain matches (like the chemistry between the two main actors) cannot be planned.
A musician at the La Fenice opera house in Venice, suffering from an incurable disease, sees his estranged wife, who is now in a relationship with another man. They realise that their love has not died. Before he dies, he manages to conduct a concert that he has always wanted to conduct.