“The Great Beauty” Told by Director of Photography Luca Bigazzi

Luca Bigazzi is one of Italy’s most acclaimed award-winning directors of photography (DOP). His life has been dedicated entirely to the best of independent Italian cinema (not counting his work with Abbas Kiarostami). He has worked with directors such as Mario Martone, Gianni Amelio, Ciprì e Maresco, Silvio Soldini, Carlo Mazzacurati, Antonio Capuano, Leonardo Di Costanzo and Andrea Segre, and has been working with Paolo Sorrentino since "The Consequences of Love" in 2004. In this interview, edited by the photographer and film critic Alberto Spadafora, the Italian cinematographer talks about "The Great Beauty", prizewinner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 2014. Although well-received abroad, the film hasn’t had the same reaction in Italy. In the book Bigazzi explains his work using the camera and light, and describes Sorrentino’s work methods and style. He also discusses the ethical and political issues in this harsh portrayal of Italy.