The Leopard(Il gattopardo)

Adapted from one of the most acclaimed Italian novels, Visconti's elegiac masterpiece captures a pivotal moment in the nation’s tumultuous history. As Garibaldi’s redshirts fight to annex Sicily for the mainland, the aging Prince of Salina can do little more than observe as his aristocratic way of life is dismantled before his eyes. Lancaster’s performance as the aristocrat is regarded as one of the finest of his career, but it’s the dazzlingly beautiful commoner Cardinale who captivates the audience and Alain Delon, the Prince’s politically progressive nephew, forming one of the most iconic on-screen pairings. Famed for its recreations of 19thcentury opulence, The Leopard culminates in a lavish, hour-long gala that not only stands as a remarkable feat of dramatic staging, but eloquently illustrates a country in transition, and the Prince’s crushing realisation that his time is at an end.

Cannes Film Festival: Palme d’Or