Beautiful melodramatic silent film in which emotions get heated. The film has been provided with colour tones that emphasise the emotions. The film is set among the aristocracy, upper classes and wealthy. A milieu in which people have the time and money to spend all night in the casino, and of course attract profiteers. One of these profiteers is Julienne Santiago. She wins a fortune in the casino and then misuses her admirer, Dr Nancey, to invest the money in an opium den. A respectable den for rich, aristocratic opium users. For this purpose, she involves St. Vallier in her plans. The Marquis is played by Bonaventura Ibanez, who was to play a Marquis again more than 10 years later in Buñuel’s famous L’Age d’Or. The opium den really has style, hidden behind many entrances and with exotic staff. The blue saloon of the House of Forgetting is soon filled with respectable yet totally stoned ladies and gentlemen who smoke their pipes with satisfaction. Julienne’s relationship with the Marquis becomes increasingly close, evoking jealousy from the doctor. She betrays the doctor’s involvement in the opium trade, as a result of which he has to pack his bags. When Julienne later two-times the Marquis with his son-in-law, the film becomes even more dramatic. The surprising denouement takes place in court. (GjZ)
Film details
- Country of production
- Italy
- Year
- 1916
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2006
- Length
- 73"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
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