| Kinski Paganini | |
| Director: | Klaus Kinski |
| Producer: | Augusto Caminito |
| Cinematography: | Pier Luigi Santi |
| Editing: | Klaus Kinski |
| Distributor: | Medusa Distribuzione |
| Runtime: | 81 minutes |
| Language: | Italian |
Kinski Paganini, also known simply as Paganini, is a 1989 biographical film written, directed by and starring Klaus Kinski. Based on the life and career of composer and virtuoso violinist Niccolò Paganini, it was Kinski's only film as director as well as his final acting appearance before his death in 1991.
Kinski felt that he and Paganini had led similar lives, and both gave "demonic" performances in their own fields that often sparked great controversy.
A biopic about the life of Niccolò Paganini, who many consider to be one of the greatest violinists who ever lived.[1]
In his 1999 documentary My Best Fiend, frequent collaborator Werner Herzog explains that Kinski repeatedly asked him to direct the film, but Herzog refused because he thought the script was "unfilmable". Herzog also states that the preparation for his role in Kinski Paganini caused the actor to take on an uncomfortable "alien" air that disrupted Kinski's performance in their last film together, Cobra Verde.
Tosca D'Aquino recalled with shock her experience in the film: "I suffered the harassment of Kinski's very difficult nature. Going back I would not make this film because I suffered a lot. He was a very violent man. I had a complicated relationship, he was bossy, I had bruises."[2] In his autobiography, Kinski, describing one of these scenes with D'Aquino, wrote, "She was embarrassed and closed her legs. I had to block them violently. When I penetrated her with my fingers, she squirmed and moaned."[3]
Since its theatrical run, the film had only been released on DVD and VHS in Germany, but in late 2011, the film was released for the first time in North America on a two disc special edition DVD. The release contained deleted and extended scenes, Cannes Film Festival interviews, and a director's cut (95 minutes).[4] In April 2024, it will be released on Blu-ray for the first time by Vinegar Syndrome sublabel Vinegar Syndrome Labs. [5]