Nostalgia Kinky

The newest release from Cult Epics’ growing book line is the gorgeous hardcover coffee-table book, The Films of Tinto Brass: From the Avant-Garde to Erotica. Clocking in at well over 200 pages, this new Nico B. edited guide to the career of one of Italy’s most important and notorious filmmakers is a must for fans of Brass and esoteric art-lovers in general.

Packed with hundreds of rare photos (both B&W and Color), The Films of Tinto Brass is broken down into several sections, with the bulk of the book dedicated to Brass’ film career. A lengthy biography of Brass kicks off the book. Previously unknown details about Brass’ fascinating family and upbringing pack this section of the book. Featuring some vintage translated Italian information about Brass’ background, it’s a precise and detailed look at the life that created a major maverick artist.

The look at Brass’ prolific filmography is broken into three sections (The Avant-Garde, Experimental Arthouse, Sex & Anarchy, and Erotica), with each proving that Brass is far from just the soft-core ass obsessed pornographer that many have labeled him as. While many readers will no doubt want to jump ahead to the Erotica section, it is the earliest chapters that prove the most valuable in showing just how varied a filmmaker Brass is.

Personal favorites like The Howl and Action are given detailed write-ups while perhaps lesser works are only given a few pages each. Each chapter includes photos, vintage material and some exclusive interviews. The ideal way to read these sections is with each film at your side to review. That said, The Films of Tinto Brass can also be read straight through, but the book should absolutely be looked at as a ‘companion’ to Brass’ films. Thankfully, Cult Epics is the largest distributor of Brass’ films here in the States and the last section is dedicated to many stills from this large home video lot.

One of the most valuable sections of the book is the closing text chapter focused on ‘The Remaining Works and the Unmade Films”. Here we get a look at missed opportunities, films that almost happened and Brass’ stage work. I so wish I could see a recording of his staged Lulu from 1985 starring Debora Caprioglio.

The Films of Tinto Brass is available everywhere books are sold. Exclusive editions, complete with dust-jacket and poster, are available directly from Cult Epics. It’s a terrific guide to one of Cinema’s most distinctive and non-conforming cinematic terrorists. Long may he continue to piss off proper society and conservative masses.

-Jeremy Richey, 2024-