Pietro Marcello’s biopic ‘Duse’ brings to life the story of Eleonora Duse, a fading Italian stage legend portrayed by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. This review explores the film’s themes and performances.
‘Duse’ Review: A Captivating Portrait of a Fading Italian Stage Legend
As the curtain rises on Pietro Marcello’s visually stunning biopic, the legendary Italian actress Eleonora Duse has been in retirement since 1909. Her enduring fame still draws a crowd, even while entertaining troops during the First World War. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi embodies Duse, portraying her as a grumpy 19th-century Italian version of Meryl Streep. While audiences familiar with Duse will appreciate the gravitas she brings, there’s an unintentional touch of camp that emerges later, especially when Duse’s parenting skills resemble those of Joan Crawford.
A Struggle for Identity
We meet Duse in a state of withdrawal from the stage, questioning her identity: “I don’t even know if I’m still an actress,” she sighs. Suffering from tuberculosis and unable to stage a comeback, her assistant encourages her to visit a sanatorium in Davos. However, the collapse of the Bank of Berlin wipes out her savings, and the shock nearly kills her. Awakening from a brief coma, she discovers a renewed passion for life: “I felt death brush past me.”
Return to the Stage
Duse’s immediate response is to return to the world of Henrik Ibsen, one of her favorite playwrights. “The Lady From the Sea has returned!” she exclaims, quickly assembling a production of Ibsen’s play, where she plays the heroine, Ellida. The intense preparation leads to one of the best rehearsal sequences since Mulholland Drive. However, on opening night, Duse panics at the thought of her daughter in the audience, dramatically declaring, “I can’t do Ellida in front of my daughter.”
Challenges and Changes
The play is a hit, or so Duse believes. Afterward, the legendary Sarah Bernhardt visits her celebratory dinner, not to congratulate but to critique, likening the atmosphere to “a museum where time has stopped.” Her harsh words serve as a wake-up call, prompting Duse to finance a pretentious play titled Hecuba of the Trenches, which ends in chaos as the audience demands classics.
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A Dangerous Obsession
Throwing the playwright under the bus, Duse becomes obsessed with her dream of creating “a temple for the theater,” returning to another favorite writer, Gabriele D’Annunzio. Emerging from the war as a hero, D’Annunzio’s nationalist views align with the rising fascism of Benito Mussolini. Despite the ominous signs, Duse falls under his influence, much to the dismay of her followers.
A Complex Legacy
Built around a powerful performance by Tedeschi, Duse offers an intriguing yet opaque portrayal of an enigmatic Italian legend. While it’s fascinating to see the contradictions in Duse’s character, those unfamiliar with her story may struggle to grasp Marcello’s intentions. Was she vain, deluded, or a genuine genius ahead of her time? Thankfully, Tedeschi’s performance allows for all interpretations. Ultimately, Duse is a stylish collection of scenes from a uniquely lived life.
