Venice Revealed

Novelist and travel writer Peter Ackroyd hosts this documentary based on his book Venice: Pure City, examining the contrasts and contradictions of a beautiful but decaying site engaged in a never-ending battle with the encroaching Mediterranean Sea, whose floodwaters wash over the city roughly 60 times a year. Divided into four parts, the film (originally broadcast on the BBC) covers art and artists, including masters such as Tintoretto, known for painting quickly with “divine fury”; architecture, especially early Byzantine and Venetian Gothic styles; music, including the compositions of Antonio Vivaldi, who was a priest and virtuoso violinist before gaining fame as a composer; and theater, expressed in the citizenry's enduring delight in donning costumes and taking part in spectacles during Carnival. Ackroyd notes Venice's obsession with keeping up appearances (beautiful facades often mask drab or crumbling interiors) and its air of mystery—the narrow passageways easily disorient visitors, while churches and private homes sometimes hide masterpieces of artwork from centuries ago. Rounding out the presentation are interviews with scholars who ponder Venice's future, as preservation efforts attempt to stave off the challenges facing this beloved but besieged tourist favorite. Although Ackroyd leaves something to be desired in terms of charisma, and the background music makes his narrative sometimes difficult to hear, the insights and lovely visuals make this a worthwhile trip. DVD extras include a viewer's guide and biographies of Venetian notables. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)