LUDWIG

“This is Visconti’s coolest, most ruminative film.”
— Bilge Ebiri, THE VILLAGE VOICE

After a string of masterpieces including OSSESSIONE, SENSO, THE LEOPARD, and DEATH AND VENICE, maestro Luchino Visconti turned his attentions to the life and death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The result: a sweeping four-hour epic of 19th-century decadence. Dominated by Helmut Berger (THE DAMNED, DORIAN GRAY) in the title role, LUDWIG boasts an impressive cast list: Romy Schneider (reprising her Elisabeth of Austria characterization from the SISSI trilogy), Silvana Mangano (BITTER RICE), Gert Fröbe (GOLDFINGER), John Moulder-Brown (DEEP END) and Trevor Howard (BRIEF ENCOUNTER). As opulent as any of Visconti’s sagas -- Piero Tosi’s costume design was nominated for an Academy Award -- LUDWIG is presented in its complete form in accordance with the director’s wishes.