Fellini's Casanova more basic urges. The film opens with a carnival in Venice as a prelude to a series of erotic encounters that follow Giacomo Casanova through the cities of 18th-century Europe. The organizers of the festival attempt to raise a gigantic bust from the water; this fails, which is taken as a bad omen. Casanova is then introduced, as he visits one of Venice's islands to copulate with a fake nun for the pleasure of a rich voyeur; Casanova succeeds in entertaining him, but is frustrated that the man finds no interest in his research into alchemy and his further scheming.
Casanova (1971 TV serial) year. Casanova (1971 TV serial) Casanova is a British television drama serial, written by television playwright Dennis Potter. Directed by Mark Cullingham and John Glenister, the serial was made by the BBC and screened on the BBC2 network in November and December 1971. It is loosely based on Italian adventurer Giacomo Casanova's "Histoire de ma vie" ("Story of My Life"; 1780–92). It was Dennis Potter's first television serial, having previously written single plays for the BBC's "The Wednesday Play" and "Play for Today" series. Frank Finlay starred in the title role and was nominated for the best actor award at