Descartes (1974)
Roberto Rossellini
Event Slider
Date
- 16:00 / Cancelled 16:00 / Sold out Sunday, 16:00
Location
Studio Centro de Arte Moderna GulbenkianPricing
10% – Cartão Gulbenkian and Cartão Gulbenkian Mais
Based on the works and correspondence of René Descartes, the film Descartes, directed by Roberto Rossellini, tells the story of the life of the French mathematician and philosopher.
The film follows almost three decades of the thinker’s life, highlighting his search for truth and knowledge and showing him debating with other intellectuals during his various trips around Europe.
Rossellini shows a human Descartes, with anguish, doubts and fears.
This film is the last in a tetralogy about philosophical figures, which includes the feature films Socrates, Blaise Pascal and Augustine of Hippo, also shown in this film cycle.
Curator's text
Rossellini's Descartes is a reluctant creature. Starting from two established sources (the Bible and Aristotle) to discover the truth, or to recognise it, he discovers a criterion of truth in the “self”, in the mind, in the “logos”. If he thinks, he exists; but how did Descartes exist outside his own head? Distancing himself from human company whenever he could, benefiting from powerful patrons, he lived in a solitude that only his many travels compensated for. And when Descartes begins to write his famous Discourse on Method, Rossellini ends the film.
Power and Glory
This event is part of the film cycle ‘Power and Glory’, which includes films by Rossellini, Rohmer and Wiseman, curated by Pedro Mexia. Learn more
Credits
Original title
Cartesio
Director
Roberto Rossellini
Duration
150 minutes
Genre
Drama
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