VENICE AND CARNIVAL

Each year, people from all over the world come to Venice to celebrate its carnival, for ten exciting days punctuated by costume balls, parades and dazzling shows. But how did the town earn its reputation as a “City of Masks”?

During the 18th century, Venice’s Carnival was in its heyday, generating a massive craze throughout Europe. Then, Venetians and foreigners, nobles and commoners alike, gathered in the city to enjoy the festivity and its excesses, without fear of reprisal. But what lies beneath the mask of joyful disorder? This popular and licentious event turns out to be real power issue. The state is quick to exert its control. To gain profit from the carnival crowd, it doesn’t hesitate to tax each of its activity – from theater to gambling and prostitution. 

Combing cinematic reconstructions, expert testimony and archival documents, this film propels us to the 18th century, to the heart of the legendary Venetian carnival. Beyond the festivities, it brings light to a major chapter in the history of “La Serenissima”.