A unique take on the jet set and the principal players of the long gone dolce vita of the 1960s-70s who made Italian and International film history.
Most of Marina Cicogna’s photographic career has been that of a far from ordinary person as she is the grand-daughter of Count Volpi, a former Governor of Libya and founder of the first ever film festival (Venice Festival, Volpi Cup) in 1932. This eclectic countess grew up surrounded by stars and, in 1967, became a film producer with “Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto” and “La classe operaia va in paradiso”. The success of these two films marked the beginning of a long list of Italian and French film productions including Teorema, Medea, C’era una volta il West, Una stagione in inferno, Bella di giorno, Il cerchio rosso, Il conformista, Ultimo Tango a Parigi, Portiere di notte. The exhibition is designed by Dante Ferretti and held in the splendid Villa Medici in Rome. A play on opulence and theatricality, it comprises a selection of approximately 80 pictures, all in black and white, portraying actors and celebrities of the days of the Dolce Vita. The pictures reveal her personal relationships and friendships with the subjects of the photographs, often caught in unofficial moments. The graphic design is delightful and original. As well as texts by Marina Cicogna, it includes written pieces by exceptional friends such as Jeanne Moreau, Calvin Klein and Dacia Maraini.