Caligula – The Ultimate Cut | LEFFEST - Lisboa Film Festival

The story of Roman emperor Caligula, who ascended the throne after the murder of Tiberius, depicts his brief reign, marked by relentless acts of violence, cruelty, orgies, and unspeakable extravagance. The film portrays the ambition, perversion, and madness of the young emperor. Notorious for its troubled production, the film went down in history for its tribulations. Director Tinto Brass lost control of the project, with many scenes filmed and added without his involvement. The film was heavily censored and released in various versions. This most recent version, edited by producer Thomas Negovan from unused footage, seeks to elevate the cast’s performances.

Duration: 173’
Production year: 2023
Country: IT, US
Language: EN Subtitles: PT

Cannes Film Festival 2023 – Classics Selection

01:46

Tinto Brass

Giovanni Brass was born in Italy in 1933. His grandfather, the renowned artist Italico Brass, gave him the nickname “Tintoretto,” which Giovanni later adapted into the name by which he is known today—Tinto Brass. Although he studied law, he decided to pursue his passion for cinema and moved to Paris, where he worked as an archivist at Henri Langlois’ Cinémathèque Française. Upon returning to Italy, he served as assistant director to filmmakers such as Cavalcanti, Rossellini, and Joris Ivens. In 1963, he directed his first feature film, Chi lavora è perduto. Over the following years, Brass experimented with various genres, from science fiction to westerns and crime dramas, earning acclaim and being regarded as one of the most promising directors of the 1960s. In 1976, Brass found his niche in the erotic genre, which came to define his career, beginning with Salon Kitty. Other notable films include Miranda (1985), Paprika (1991), and Senso '45 (2002). Rebellious, anarchic, and experimental, Brass’ films are characterised by an erotic and impressionistic style, with fragmented imagery presented in a mesmerising rhythm.