The Leopard - Two Italian Masterpieces

The Leopard (or Il Gattopardo in Italian) tells the story of Italy through the lives of a noble Sicilian family around the time of Italian unification. It was made into an equally famous film by Luchino Visconti starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon. The book’s author, Giovanni Tomassi di Lampedusa was himself part of a noble but struggling noble family in Sicily. The book gave rise to many famous quotes and continues to be on all “must read” lists.
Photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, author’s creation, public domain or from the 1963 movie of The Leopard.

[@garrycraigpowell]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, in regards to both the novel and the film. And this is an excellent introduction to them.

[@Matteo_Licata]

I've once been to watch a theatrical representation of the book, masterfully performed in the Roman amphitheater of Taormina, Sicily. Extremely poignant and touching.

[@lamiaitaly2549]

Thank you for watching and the comment. I appreciate your support

[@johnappleby405]

Thanks for another fascinating video! Are you planning any more on the rich history of Italian cinema? Something on ‘Conversation Piece’ Visconti’s last movie with Burt Lancaster for instance? Or ‘Buongiorno Notte’ the 2004 film about the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro? Just suggestions and I look forward to watching the other pieces on your site

[@lamiaitaly2549]

Thanks again for your comments. I’m not sure about films but definitely intending to do something about the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. It’s a balance as I worry I focus too much on negatives and the bad times of Italian history although those moments tend to be particularly interesting!

[@mestesso9845]

"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change". Although such famous quote is based on an italian novel, I think that the unerlying message is not only applicable to the Italian society. Colonialism, neo-colonialism, shorterminsm in anglo-saxon countries had been replaced by deceitful and apparently cleaner ways of acting. So, sorry for this parallelism, but I think that this message can be brought in many different contexts. The Gattopardo book's main takeaways can be read in a "Glocal" perspective.

[@youtuber5305]

- When the people contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything by their victory but new masters.
George Savile

[@youtuber5305]

- The more things change, the more they are the same.
Alphonse Karr: 1808 - 1890