Tadzio's Hair

Luchino Visconti's 1971 movie adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel Death In Venice, starring the iconic, beautiful Björn Andrésen is one of my favourite films. It's a must-watch. The controversial Mr Andresen said that when he was 16, Visconti would take him to gay clubs where he felt discomforted by grown men staring at him: 'They looked at me uncompromisingly as if I was a nice meaty dish.' He was, in 1976, alleged to have murdered actor Sal Mineo in a stabbing incident, though never charged.

On a different note, did you know that Visconti's fragance is Hummam Bouquet (launched in 1872) from Penhaligon's? This is a light oriental with a bergamot/lavender opening and a rose heart warmed by its amber/sandlewood base. Very old school, in a good way, the perfect perfume to wear for this movie.

"In his life, softness and tenderness were evidently the rule. No one had ever dared cut short his beautiful hair... The english sailor's suit enhanced his delicate share with an air of richness and indulgence. was he in poor health? for his complexion was white as ivory against the dark gold of the surrounding curls."
- Thomas Mann, Death in Venice