A new digital restoration of the 1976 Cuban film The Last Supper / La última cena by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea will premiere as part of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics section, dedicated to the world premiere of a selection of the best classic film restorations completed over the past year by film libraries, cultural institutions and production companies.
Set In 18th-century Cuba, the film follows a clueless count (Nelson Villagra) who wants to bring the light of religion into the lives of his slaves. And he can think of no better way to share the power of Christianity than to involve them in a staging of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. After picking twelve of his slaves to serve as disciples, the count arranges them around the dinner table for a rather odd exchange of ideas. He considers the night a success—until his slaves stage an uprising on Good Friday.
“Alea’s dazzling moral tale draws on Christianity, socialism, blasphemy, humor, despair, horror” (Penelope Gilliatt, The New Yorker), the Cuban classic film is a timely film as ever. “Uncompromising and poignant as it exposes colonial Cuba’s contradictions and religious hypocrisy to condone the brutal treatment of slaves” wrote Vanessa Martinez in a recent Shadow and Act review.
This year, Venice Classics’ lineup will be hosted at the Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy from August 25-31.
