AllMovie

This historical drama and murder mystery concerns the efforts of playwright Carlo Goldoni (Vincent Spano) to figure out who killed his patron and benefactor Spinoza. The lively action involves everyone who is anyone in 1735 Venice's high society. The mystery escalates when everyone of Goldoni's potential backers is killed. The Grand Inquisitor (Victor Lanoux) even suspects the playwright himself. Eventually the mystery is solved, and Goldoni is once again free to produce his groundbreaking plays and court his beloved Nicoletta (Isabel Russinova). One highlight of the movie is the spirited performance given by Wojtek Pszoniak as the composer Antonio Vivaldi. Goldoni (1707-1793) broke with centuries-long Italian and European tradition by replacing the unscripted comedies performed by improvisational commedia del arte troupes with fully written out plays. He is considered to be a key figure, along with Shakespeare and Moliere, in the development of modern drama.