Italian Cinema Forum Workshop 2: The Lady without Camelias

Join a discussion about Antonioni's 1953 movie, presented by Dr Mark Nicholls, University of Melbourne.

In this early work, Antonioni trains his camera on a subject which is uncomfortably familiar to both the Italian industry and global filmmaking. Lucia Bosè plays Clara, a young woman catapulted from shop girl tedium to national celebrity at her designated impresario’s (Andrea Checchi) lightest of puppet-string touches. As acting contract turns to marriage deal, Clara becomes increasingly trapped in her impresario-husband’s mix of personal and professional ambition.

Selected clips will be shown as a basis for group discussion. For a more engaging conversation, it's a good idea to watch the full movie beforehand.

Dr Mark Nicholls is Senior Lecturer in Cinema Studies at the University of Melbourne, where he has taught film since 1993. Mark has worked as a film journalist for ABC Radio and The Age, and has over 20 stage credits as a playwright, performer, producer and director.