With a career that began already in the silent era, Gustav Machaty maintained forever – even once sound film had taken over worldwide – his marked aesthetics, an image of constant topics such as the loneliness of the human being, the desperate need for happiness and death.
On the occasion of the pre-opening of the 76th Venice Film Festival, the feature film Ecstasy, directed by Gustav Machatý, was screened, newly restored in 4K by the Cineteca di Bologna. And although this important work is mainly remembered for the nudity of the beautiful Hedy Lamarr, which had already caused a scandal at the Venice Film Festival in 1934, many will have noticed that Ecstasy also stands out for its excellent direction by Machatý.