Filmmaker, philosopher, and poet Silvano Agosti remains a singular voice in the history of Italian cinema. Counting Marco Bellocchio and Liliana Cavani among his peers at film school—as well as closely collaborating with Bellocchio on his masterful Fists in the Pocket (1965), Agosti made his feature debut in 1967 with Garden of Delights, scored by musical icon Ennio Morricone. As his working practice historically doesn’t contemplate a crew, he is the one taking on most of the production duties -from cinematography to editing-in the belief that the director should supervise all aspects of a film’s creation to avoid compromising the core message. Since 1982, Agosti has been the sole owner and projectionist of Rome’s Cinema Azzurro Scipioni: originally opened to theatrically release Franco Piavoli’s first film The Blue Planet (1982), it has become a landmark meeting point for artists and cinephiles alike.
Our double bill looks at two of Agosti’s most accomplished films, made almost two decades apart: In the Highest of Skies (1977) is a grotesque, controversial, and courageous ensemble story set in the heart of the Vatican, and Sweet War, Farewell (1991) reflects autobiographically on his own childhood, experiences of war, and the act of remembering.

Filmmaker, philosopher, and poet Silvano Agosti remains a singular voice in the history of Italian cinema. Counting Marco Bellocchio and Liliana Cavani among his peers at film school&#8212;as well as closely collaborating with Bellocchio on his masterful Fists in the Pocket (1965), Agosti made his feature debut in 1967 with Garden of Delights, scored by musical icon Ennio Morricone. As his working practice historically doesn&#8217;t contemplate a crew, he is the one taking on most of the production duties <del>-from cinematography to editing</del>-in the belief that the director should supervise all aspects of a film&#8217;s creation to avoid compromising the core message. Since 1982, Agosti has been the sole owner and projectionist of Rome&#8217;s Cinema Azzurro Scipioni: originally opened to theatrically release Franco Piavoli&#8217;s first film The Blue Planet (1982), it has become a landmark meeting point for artists and cinephiles alike. 
Our double bill looks at two of Agosti&#8217;s most accomplished films, made almost two decades apart: In the Highest of Skies (1977) is a grotesque, controversial, and courageous ensemble story set in the heart of the Vatican, and Sweet War, Farewell (1991) reflects autobiographically on his own childhood, experiences of war, and the act of remembering.

Poetry through Images: A Silvano Agosti Double Bill

POETRY THROUGH IMAGES: A SILVANO AGOSTI DOUBLE BILL

Filmmaker, philosopher, and poet Silvano Agosti remains a singular voice in the history of Italian cinema. Our double bill looks at two of his most accomplished films, made almost two years apart but distinct in the singularity of their vision.

Filmmaker, philosopher, and poet Silvano Agosti remains a singular voice in the history of Italian cinema. Our double bill looks at two of his most accomplished films, made almost two years apart but distinct in the singularity of their vision.