About

Conversation Piece is a portrait of wealth and insalubriousness from a director who spent much of his career ruminating on both subjects. Reuniting with several past screen collaborators – including Burt Lancaster (The Leopard 1963), Helmut Berger (The Damned 1969, Ludwig 1973), and Silvana Mangano (The Witches 1967, Death in Venice 1971) – Visconti’s film is an intimate drama set entirely within the Roman palazzo of Lancaster’s unnamed professor. He finds his life of peaceful solitude disturbed by the arrival of new young tenants on the upper floor of his apartment. This newfound tumult quickly drives him to breaking point as he attempts to reconcile with the libidinous decadence of their behaviour.

At the time of filming, Visconti was recovering from a debilitating stroke that left him in poor health and consequently eager to make a film smaller in scope than his grand epics. Nevertheless, Conversation Piece is a sharp and pointed film that is brought to life by its vivacious cast and Technicolor cinematography. The director makes the most of the set's claustrophobia, leaning on his experience in theatre to make this dynamic and absorbing dramatic satire.

MA15+ | Infrequent strong coarse language