THE FILM
“Canaletto, the fabulous journey” is a journey through time and space. There were two Canalettos: Antonio Canal, better known in Italy, and Bernardo Bellotto, an actual celebrity in Germany and Poland. Thanks to his paintings, cities like Dresden and Warsaw were rebuilt after the war. Here is a trailer/work-in-progress.
A Coproduction between FILMLUX , A film and television production company based in Milan, specializing in art and history films, and WOJTEKFILMS, a production company based in Warsaw. Co-producers of the project also include the Polish Audiovisual Institute and FINA (which operates cinemas and a streaming platform), with the support of the Lombardy Region (winner of the Cinema funding program).
Uncle and nephew, master and apprentice, they became fierce rivals. Antonio Canal emigrated to England, while Bernardo Bellotto joined the Saxon royal court, becoming the alter ego of his famous uncle and mentor. Bellotto evolved, establishing himself as a master of landscapes and portraits, and became a pivotal cultural figure in Germany, Austria, and Poland, where the so-called “Canaletto Blick” is still celebrated today.
He is driven by two obsessions. The first: never being mistaken for his uncle. In museums around the world, his works hang alongside Antonio Canal’s, yet attributions constantly shift. One of Venice’s most stunning paintings, held at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, was recently credited to Bellotto, with his uncle’s name removed—an example among many.
His second obsession is to rise above his origins: to become noble and to shake off the life of a poor orphan forced to work in his uncle’s workshop.
Canaletto is the most famous view painter in the world, yet so little is truly known about him. Here, he tells his story in the first person. Both director and documentarian, through his Camera Obscura he does more than observe reality—he glimpses the future: the destruction of Warsaw and Dresden, the Sonnestein Palace he painted from multiple angles later transformed into a site of Nazi experiments on disabled children.
This is not a film about Canaletto—it is a film by Canaletto, taking us on an extraordinary journey: from Venice to Lombardy, from Rome to Florence and Turin, and across Europe, where he witnessed the fall of great monarchies. The Saxon monarchy vanished after Frederick II of Prussia’s invasion; shortly after Bellotto’s death, Poland too disappeared, divided among Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Only his works endured, testifying to the grandeur of the Polish kingdom, which was revived after the war thanks to his paintings, rediscovered and used as models for rebuilding Warsaw.
Never has a painter been so influential in the modern era. With his irony and his obsession with grandeur, Bellotto guides us on this journey, rediscovering a Europe in crisis—a mirror of our own times.
The most fascinating and original aspect of Bellotto’s work is that he inserted himself, his friends, and his family into the heart of his compositions (it took two years of research to identify his characters). Through this, we are immersed in his paintings, uncovering the hidden stories and narrative power they hold, while gaining the opportunity to explore fragments of everyday life and customs of the eighteenth century
Sponsors who choose to support this film will become part of an innovative and groundbreaking project in the world of art, one that combines great history with cutting-edge technology to deliver a unique, immersive experience. This is not a traditional documentary, but a journey that conveys historical awareness through a completely new cinematic approach.
The film will be distributed in cinemas in Italy, Poland, and Germany, on television (with broadcasters already expressing interest), and in museums and schools through a dedicated educational program. Ultra-high-resolution painting, virtual reality, and extraordinary sound design come together to create an original narrative that transports audiences into the life and world of the 18th century.
With Canaletto, The Fabulous Journey, we are redefining the way Art and History are told—making them accessible, engaging, and emotionally powerful for a wide and diverse audience.
Contact for sponsors and supporters:
Write on WhatsApp: +39 351 8312912
Email: info@canalettofilm.com and filmlux@gmail.com
The Venetian actor Alessandro Bressanello plays the last Bellotto in Warsaw.
