Conversation Piece

A retired professor and art lover leads a solitary life in his abode in Rome. Countess Bianca Brumonti insists on renting a floor of his mansion. He agrees in exchange for a unique painting that he wants for his collection. The arrival of the countess’ eccentric family turns his quiet life upside down. Silvana Mangano and Helmut Berger star alongside Burt Lancaster in the roles of Bianca and her young lover – central characters in this family possessing rather unusual moral values. In the film, the professor succumbs to the charms of Konrad Huebel, despite his vulgar nature. A strange relationship – based on desire and domination – comes to exist between them. For some, this fictitious couple is a metaphor for the relationship that was formed between Luchino Visconti and Helmut Berger.

The restoration was carried out by CSC – Cineteca Nazionale (Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia) using the original 35mm camera negative and the optical sound negative. Image processing, scanning to UHD 4K, and final grading were completed at Studio Emme, Rome. This new edition restores Visconti’s precise chromatic design, elegant interior compositions, and sonic detail with unprecedented clarity and fidelity.