Fellini’s Casanova (1976) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Casanova is arrested by the High Court in Venice specifically because of his notorious reputation for debauchery. His widespread fame as a libertine and serial seducer has attracted the attention of Venetian authorities, who judge and imprison him as a result of his scandalous lifestyle.

Foreshadowing: His earlier activities on Venice's island, involving elaborate sexual arrangements for wealthy voyeurs, have already attracted unwanted attention.

• arrest
• venice
• high court
• imprisonment
• debauchery

Casanova escapes from his Venice prison by climbing onto the roof. This daring physical feat allows him to break free from confinement and begin his exile from Venice, marking the turning point that sets his lifelong travels in motion.

• escape
• prison
• roof
• venice
• exile

Anna Maria is a junior employee whom Casanova has an intense affair with during his time in Venice. She suffers from fainting spells that require bloodletting as treatment, a common medical practice of the era. Her vulnerability and medical condition make her a memorable figure in Casanova's romantic recollections.

• anna maria
• fainting spells
• bloodletting
• affair

Madame d'Urfé is an aged noblewoman in Paris who becomes captivated by Casanova's supposed knowledge of alchemy. She hopes to achieve spiritual transformation through ritualistic intercourse with him, believing he possesses the secrets to transcendence and eternal life through alchemical means.

Foreshadowing: Casanova's frustration earlier in Venice stems from people's lack of interest in his own alchemical research and schemes.

• madame durfe
• alchemy
• paris
• transformation
• ritual

Henriette vanishes mysteriously the morning after pledging fidelity to Casanova. Du Bois, the hunchback, reveals that Henriette has been reclaimed by an emissary from a distant court. Casanova is warned not to pursue her, suggesting powerful forces have taken her away against her will.

• henriette
• forli
• disappearance
• du bois
• court

Casanova attempts to drown himself in the Thames after being robbed by two women in London. Overwhelmed by despair and having lost everything, he sees suicide as his only escape. However, his suicidal attempt is interrupted when his attention is captured by a vision of a giantess and dwarves, pulling him back from the brink.

• suicide
• london
• thames
• despair
• robbery

After his suicide attempt, Casanova becomes distracted by a vision of a giantess and dwarves at a frost fair. He follows them and watches the giantess (who is actually a princess) bathe with the dwarves, paying for the spectacle. This surreal interlude represents a shift from despair to whimsical fascination, showcasing the film's dreamlike quality.

• giantess
• dwarves
• london
• frost fair
• vision
• princess

Rosalba is a mechanical doll that Casanova encounters at the Württemberg court. He dances with her and shares an intimate moment, blending his lifelong fascination with technology and innovation alongside his pursuit of passion. The mechanical doll symbolizes the intersection of artifice and desire that defines much of Casanova's existence.

• rosalba
• mechanical doll
• württemberg
• dance
• technology

The elderly Casanova serves as a librarian for Count Waldstein at Dux Castle. His life has become tiresome and ridiculed, with his former glory as a renowned libertine fading into memory. He spends his days reminiscing and recounting his past adventures, feeling drained and weary of his earlier exploits.

• dux castle
• librarian
• count waldstein
• old age
• retirement

In his dream, Casanova returns to Venice chasing the ghosts of his past lovers, who gradually vanish into ether. A magnificent stagecoach appears, inviting him to join its passengers. This symbolizes his longing for reconciliation with his past, his desire to reclaim lost love and meaning, and the inevitable journey toward death that awaits him.

Foreshadowing: The dream echoes his entire life of constant pursuit, both of pleasure and of deeper meaning.

• dream
• venice
• stagecoach
• ghosts
• lovers
• death

While staying with Madame d'Urfé in Paris, Casanova reunites with his brother and proceeds to seduce his brother's girlfriend. This act demonstrates Casanova's inability to resist temptation regardless of personal relationships, adding complication and conflict to his family ties and showing his complete dedication to his libertine lifestyle.

• brother
• girlfriend
• paris
• seduction
• family

In Dresden, Casanova falls for Isabella, the daughter of an alchemist. However, she misses their appointment to travel to Dresden. Instead of waiting, Casanova indulges in an orgy at a hostel where he is stranded. This encounter also includes a brief meeting with his estranged mother in a theater, revealing unresolved family tensions.

• isabella
• dresden
• alchemist
• orgy
• mother