Hi Math.

I really like Death In Venice and I also enjoyed my experience of watching the film more than reading the book.

Having said that, my liking for the film, though it still remains one of my favourites somehow, cooled a bit when I read of Bjorn Andresen's feelings about his experience making the film (from IMDb) -

In 2005, Björn Andresen turned 50 (oh time, time...) and gave a few interviews -- you know the sadistic game of the press, "let's see how old and used up he looks now!!". He complained how he felt abused by Visconti, who took him to gay bars and parties to "show him off", exposing him to the gay scene when he was but 15 and turning him into a gay icon overnight, which made him -- a heterosexual teenager -- understandably confused and rebellious. Furthermore, Visconti never again employed him as an actor or helped him get acting jobs. Feeling traumatized by the whole experience, Björn went on to make a few minor Swedish movies, got married, faced the tragic death of his baby child by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, experimented with drugs and alcohol, is now out of work as an actor and trying to make a living as a piano player...in other words, a messed up life of unfulfilled promises. His face doesn't bear a single trace left of his former beauty, he now looks haggard, prematurely wasted, deeply wrinkled, completely unrecognizable. But despite the fact the he wasn't the Tadzio Visconti originally had in mind (was Visconti looking for a 12-year-old Helmut Berger?), Björn Andresen will forever be -- for better or worse -- the one and only embodiment of Tadzio for all of us moviegoers.

Still, great film but I wsh that Fellini could have been more professional and responsible about his young actor and not come across as a 'dirty old man'. Of course, I don't know the full story but Andresen seems genuinely resentful of the experience and Fellini did seem like a bit of a user of his actors, which must feel especially unpleasant for someone so young. Anyway, whatever happened behind the scenes it doesn't change the fact it's a brilliant film.

By the way, Have you read/seen Brideshead Revisited? As much as I like the book, that's another example of where I prefer the (in this case) TV-series. Anthony Andrews was perfect as Sebastian. I heard a couple of years ago they wanted to do a remake with Jude Law as Sebastian but I haven't heard more since then, so maybe it isn't happening.