Oscar winning actor Maximilian Schell directed this valentine to his sister, the actress Maria Schell. In the 1950s and early 60s, Schell was an internationally known, award winning film actress who had worked with Luchino Visconti, Rene Clement and Anthony Mann and co-starred opposite Gary Cooper and Marcello Mastroianni. It’s supposed to be a documentary on the ailing Maria’s twilight days as she shuts down physically and mentally (she died 3 years after this film), staying in bed all day watching her old movies as she sinks deeper into financial chaos until her home and property must be put up for public auction. It’s sad to see a once great artist and star reduced to this and it’s supposed to be a documentary but there’s a disturbing element of exploitation to all this as it’s clear many moments are clearly re-enacted for the camera as when Maria sets fire to the house and the cameraman is there to film it! I wanted to know more about this woman but Maximilian Schell focuses as much time on him and his family as on Maria.
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