It's hard to put a movie I've only seen twice into the same class of perfection as 'Casablanca' and other 'greatest ever' films, but I still believe "Long Live the Signora" may be one of the most perfect films ever made. Directed by one of Italy's most famous directors, you would expect this Venice Film Festival silver medal winner to be more available, but it's almost impossible to find, even in film stores in Italy and France. Perhaps it left a more vivid impression on me because I saw it in Paris, a day after I saw "Death in Venice" for the first time. Try to see if YOU don't see the uncanny resemblance between the 'perfect' adolescent girl in this movie, and the 'perfect' boy in "Death in Venice" (both chosen for purity of beauty and risk of fall from innocence). If there weren't decades and nationalities between these two actors, I'd believe they were twins. Seeing the films one after the other made me truly believe the director had actually chosen her with this resemblance in mind. In any case, the movie may be too slow for most Americans. But for those who appreciate simple, pure character studies, you may fall as deeply in love with this movie as I did. I remember it as being the most technically perfect movie I've ever seen and a MUST SEE for all serious film lovers. Decide for yourself. The timing, the dialog, the insight into the minds of the youthful servants, and the generational contrasts were just classic. Simply unparalleled. A beautiful film that marked me for life. U.S. title: "Long Live the Lady!"
