Hi, I’m Architect Banu Altay from Sia Moore. Today, I’m gonna show you how
Hollywood Blockbuster Movie “The Tourist” can teach us about the Venetian
Architecture and design. The Tourist is one of the best movies that can make you
feel as if you’re literally visiting Europe. From the spectacular Grand Canal
views to the most ancient Baroque architecture shoots,
alongside Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp this film will inspire you for a trip to
Venice but let us warn you this won't be a budget trip let's start with the
gorgeous Danieli Hotel where the faux married couple Johnny and Depp check in
as they arrived to Venice. Located on
Danieli Hotel is a great place to start, since it perfectly
represents the traditional luxury of gothic Italian architecture. As we watch
Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie enters the hotel lobby they are welcomed by a
grandiose atrium space
As Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp walks into their room in the Palace, we are
introduced to an extravagant interior. The room carries all the
characteristic of baroque decorations. Crystal chandeliers, gold ornamentations
marble walls, colorful plaster board details above the doorways and floor to
ceiling windows opening up to gorgeous canal view. All are present in the movie to
create a traditional yet luxuries image of Venice. Every single location of the film is
very well curated and adjusted for the script. I mean we watch Angelina Jolie
as an intelligent ex-agent wearing glamorous jewelry and designer clothes
only so she can meet with her fugitive millionaire lover in Venice. And the
extravagant Venetian baroque decor really completes her million-dollar Lady
look.
But let us not forget the other leading role of the tourists: Johnny Depp.
He plays a fool American tourists visiting Venice, whom on the
road randomly encounters to a beautiful British lady, unaware of the fact that
she is on a secret mission. Upon falling in love with her, he suddenly finds
himself in great danger. Sure of himself Depp's character decides to let go of
his insecurities and follows Jolie to a very fancy ball, just to help her find the
millionaire fugitive lover. Depp nailing a perfect white suit, walks into a huge
Venetian building located at the waterfront. The ballroom he enters is the
iconic mid 16th century Scuole Grandi building of Venice. A huge complex that
was not open to public until five years later the tourist bus released. Inspired
by the Roman Classism, the Scuole Grandi was built by the Renaissance architect
Jacopo Sansovino.
Walls inside decorated with unbelievable frescoes and smooth plain columns will
sure catch your gaze! Yet watching the film
one can be mistaken to believe that the interiors of the Scuole Grandi is all authentic
and original. Well it's not. Upon the directors decision that he
want to shoot the ballroom scene inside Scuole Grandi building, alongside a team
of expert builders and painters, he have re-designed the space in four weeks as
a ballroom film set. Take for example the dance floor. Originally it was made
out of wood but the film crew painted the whole floor to make it look like it
was marble. And the balcony you see here, as well as the raised platform that
carried twenty-piece Orchestra were all built from the scratch.The marble
Renaissance columns too were partly wrapped with mirrors and squared wooden
frames that were painted to blend in with the original 16th century white columns.
The team also installed crystal chandeliers, which in the original floor
plan was not present. When the director of the film was asked about his
selection of Scuole Grandi for the ballroom scene; he said that the moment
he saw this Renaissance structure he immediately fell in love with it and the
empty interiors inspired him to create a ballroom scene where everything about
glitter, sparkle and elegance. And when we watch Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
waltzing together on the marble dancefloor all we see is really the glamour,
sparkle and elegance. So well done everybody!
What do you think about the way Venetian Architecture was shown in the film the Tourist?
Let me know in the comments below and if you are interested in architecture make
sure to come back! And don't forget to subscribe to Sia Moore!