Casanova (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

Jeffrey Hatcher (screenplay) and
Kimberly Simi (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A partially true story about lies told, virtue lost and love found.

Plot:

Heath Ledger plays the fabled romantic as a man who, after failing to win the affection of a particular Venetian woman, strives to discover the real meaning of love.

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Play | Heresy | Swashbuckler | Sidekick

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Casanova
Sienna Miller	...	Francesca Bruni
Jeremy Irons	...	Pucci
Oliver Platt	...	Paprizzio
Lena Olin	...	Andrea
Omid Djalili	...	Lupo
Stephen Greif	...	Donato
Ken Stott	...	Dalfonso
Helen McCrory	...	Casanova's Mother
Leigh Lawson	...	Mother's Lover / Tito
Tim McInnerny	...	The Doge
Charlie Cox	...	Giovanni Bruni
Natalie Dormer	...	Victoria
Philip Davis	...	Guardi (as Phil Davis)
Paddy Ward	...	Vittorio

Also Known As:

Femur (Philippines: English title)
Казанова (Russia) [ru]
Casanova (Spain) [es]
Casanova (Brazil) [pt]
Casanova (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Casanova (Germany) [de]
Casanova (Greece) [el]
Casanova (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Norway:7 | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Sweden:Btl | Singapore:PG (re-rating) | USA:R (certificate #41930) | Malaysia:U | Germany:6 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Hungary:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Spain:13 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

When Casanova is running away from the Inquisition in the opening scene he jumps through a window and into the University of Venice. The University of Venice never existed and the building he jumps into is in fact the "Theatro Olympico", one of the first Renaissance theatres- and 140 kilometers away from Venice.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Francesca Bruni fires Bernardo Guardi through a note which Guardi then reads, "Your services are no longer needed". However, later in the film the inquisitor is informed that Bernardo Guardi cannot read or write.

Quotes:

Pucci: Let's just say... they have a hunger for religion.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2005-12-24)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Concerto à 5, Op. 9 No. 6 in G for 2 Oboes, Strings & Continuo (3. Allegro)

Great fun, wonderful settings and music, for all ages

I read here that in the USA this film got an R rating, not PG-13, as ¨director Hallström wanted, only because of something that is suggested is happening under a table. In the Netherlands, where it had it's premiere yesterday, the rating is for over 5 year olds, so that says enough for whom this movie really is. I was at first a little disappointed to find out that this is not a historical movie, but a slapstick comedy, but I loved the settings (Venice and Vicenza,where they made a scene in the famous Teatro Olimpico, which is supposed to be a Venice University in the movie) and the music which is mostly baroque (Vivaldi, Albinoni, Händel, Rameau, Paisiello and a few more) and as a baroque music lover I thoroughly enjoyed the movie just only for the music alone. This must be one of the first-ever costume farce movies, but if you forget all the movies like Shakespeare in love or Pride and Prejudice and take this movie for it's own merits, it is a thoroughly rewarding experience. There was a lot of laughing by the audience and I found myself laughing more than in any movie I remember. It is thoroughly entertaining from first to last minute, but devout Catholics will find it insulting, as it makes fun of the Catholic Church, but it should be quite evident to everyone, also devout catholics, that the story is not to be taken too seriously, so why being bothered by it? The movie can actually be considered as a modern version of an opera buffa. Obviously there is a romantic plot and by all the farce and hilariousness I would say that the romantic element gets snowed under, but, as said, you have to accept this movie for what it is and concentrate on the lavish settings, costumes, music, the fun, and you will want to see it many more times, like me.