PODCAST | Chiara Nicoletti interviews Charles Dance, actor of the film The Book of Vision.
We learned to fear him as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones and now british actor Charles Dance, is at the 77th Venice Film festival as the protagonist of Venice Critic’s week opening film: The Book of Vision by Carlo Hintermann. In the film produced by Terrence Malick and debut feature by documentarist Carlo Hinterman, Charles Dance plays two characters, two doctors with a different approach to medicine, one belonging to the past and one acting in the present. The one from the past, John Ammuth can cure patients by listening to them, by reading their bodies and fantasies. This way he’s putting the basis for what we call today: narrative medicine. Charles Dance describes his roles and gives his opinion on this very interesting approach to medicine and more generally on how our minds can affect our bodies and how “we can make ourselves sick”. The actor also comments on the film’s depiction of the connection between life and death. Is there life beyond death? Do we really have to know? answers Dance. The secret, according to Dance is to be optimistic.
The Book of Vision: Eva, a doctor and student of the history of medicine, discovers a manuscript by Johan Anmuth, an 18th century physician. In his Book of Vision, Anmuth focuses on the feelings, fears and dreams of over 1800 of his patients, whose spirits still wander through the pages. Immersing herself in these tales and visions, Eva questions the separation of the past, present and future, while confronting the challenges of modern medicine and its limitations with respect to her own body.
The Lovers Film Festival celebrates 40 years with 70 films from 26 countries, international guests and tributes to LGBTQI+ cinema icons. Directed by Vladimir Luxuria, from 10 to 17 April at the Cinema Massimo in Turin.