Freedom's Desire: Ethics, Aesthetics and Erotica

Born in Milan but deeply attached to Venice—the city he calls his “mother, wife, and beloved”—Tinto Brass had a rebellious streak from childhood. Intolerant of any form of authority, he soon broke with his family, who saw him as a reckless, depraved young man and a playboy who only caused problems. After studying filmmaking with Roberto Rossellini and Joris Ivens, Tinto Brass devoted himself to the genre of erotic cinema and began creating landmark films for the genre such as “Caligula,” “The Key,” “The Voyeur,” and “Salon Kitty,” becoming the undisputed master of Italian eroticism. Tinto Brass’s films not only introduced a new approach to erotic aesthetics, but also became bold statements about freedom, enlightenment, and society. To critics’ attacks, Brass responded with Aristotelian syllogisms and new ethical dilemmas in his films; his daring methods and approaches were admired by Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini. This book lets you take a look onto the set with Tinto Brass and learn the key milestones of his creative path.