“I don’t have the inhibitions that a practicing Catholic would in that I’m not paralysed by the sacredness of the text, nor do I have the inhibitions of a lapsed Catholic who would view approaching the story of Jesus as compromising his Marxist beliefs, of sinking back into conformity.” Il vangelo secondo Matteo [The Gospel According to Matthew] (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964)
Jun
22
National Kissing Day
Judas (Otello Sestili) kisses Jesus (Enrique Irazoqui) in intimate closeup. DP: Tonino Delli Colli.
A [favourite] movie kiss for National Kissing Day (USA*), not to be confused with International Kissing Day aka World Kiss Day which falls on July 6.
– PPP, via
An neorealist, straightforward adaptation of the Gospel of Matthew, populated by non-actors (“Jesus” is a 19-year Catalan trade unionist picked for his resemblance to El Greco's Christ), intellectuals, and anachronistic characters based on biblical art through the ages.
According to said Gospel, apostle Judas kissed prophet Jesus to signal to the police who of the 13 men present was the one to arrest.
Interestingly, the word Matthew chose to describe the kiss is καταφιλέω, the same word used by philosopher Plutarch to describe the kiss between Alexander the Great and his eunuch Bagoas
* no one wants to kiss you anymore, America
Italy
“Instead of leaving this morning, I'm still here. Among friends.”Strategia del ragno [The Spider's Stratagem] (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1970)
Jun
15
Sat
A clock face. It's 9:54 on Saturday June 15. DPs: Franco Di Giacomo & Vittorio Storaro.
The two-page story this film is based on – Jorge Luis Borges' Tema del traidor y del héroe [Theme of the Traitor and Hero] (1944) – takes place on January 3 and August 2.
– Athos Magnani
Le temps des loups [The Heist] (Sergio Gobbi, 1970)
Jun
12
1938
Dillinger (Robert Hossein) followed by Stella (Virna Lisi). DP: Daniel Diot.
Morte a Venezia [Death in Venice] (Luchino Visconti, 1971)
Jun
11
Say HI Day
Von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde) and Tadzio (Björn Andrésen). DP: Pasqualino De Santis.
Characters say or wave hello on Say HI Day
A sickly composer meets and becomes infatuated with a boy during his stay in Venice.
A cavallo della tigre [On the Tiger's Back] (Luigi Comencini, 1961)
Jun
4
Mario (Mario Adorf) rinsing his mouth while eyeing two of the wardens. DP: Aldo Scavarda.
or June 5th?
“For a handful of coins!”L'uomo più velenoso del cobra [The Man More Venomous Than the Cobra / Human Cobras] (Bitto Albertini, 1971)
May
19
Leslie (Erika Blanc) and Tony Garden (George Ardisson). DP: Emilio Foriscot.
“You must realize that today in Germany anything can happen, even the improbable, and it's just the beginning, Frederick. Personal morals are dead. We are an elite society where everything is permissible. These are Hitler's words. My dear Frederick, even you should give them some thought.”La caduta degli dei (Götterdämmerung) [The Damned] (Luchino Visconti, 1969)
May
18
Visit Your Relatives Day
Martin Von Essenbeck (Helmut Berger) entertains the family. DPs: Pasqualino De Santis & Armando Nannuzzi.
A family gathering on Visit Your Relatives Day (USA)
– Aschenbach
The wealthy Von Essenbecks gather for a family dinner party. There is entertainment.
“My Hermès handbag!” Week-end (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967)
May
9
UN Global Road Safety Week
A terrible, bloody, car crash. There's cars on fire and several injured sprawled around. A lucky survivor exclaims MY HERMÈS HANDBAG! DP: Raoul Coutard.
A traffic accident: UN Global Road Safety Week *
– Corinne
The bourgeois make their way to the countryside, and find themselves in a cacophony of car crashes, primitive urges, and political uprisings.
* In 2025, this actually takes places from May 12 – 18.
“What mystery, what beauty.”Stromboli (Terra di Dio) [Stromboli] (Roberto Rossellini, 1950)
May
8
birthdays
Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman on set on Sardinia. In the background the house Bergman's character moves into with her husband. DP: Otello Martelli.
May 8 is both director Rossellini and Bergman's character Karen's #birthday.
– Karen
“Producers are something I can easily do without”Le mépris [Contempt] (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963)
May
5
Europe Day
Michel Piccoli, director Fritz Lang, Jack Palance, and director Jean-Luc Godard behind the scenes. The clapperboard held by Godard is for the movie that Lang's working on in Le Mépris, an adaption of Homer's Odyssey. DP: Raoul Coutard.
A director from the EU for Europe Day
– Fritz Lang
A film in a film, the former directed by Fritz Lang, directed by Godard.