Between 1967 and 1970 Italian auteur Giovanni 'Tinto' Brass directed four feature films in London, each starring a woman as the main character. Exploring the political, cultural and sexual ideas of their time, often in a deliberate pop-art style, they contain much priceless footage of now forgotten neighbourhoods, galleries, clubs and events as well as an abundance of contemporary music. FREE YOUR MIND! describes the films, their stars and how they were made. Based on interviews with many of the surviving participants, it argues that at this stage of his career, before Caligula, Brass was as significant a figure in cinema as Antonioni, Godard and many other better-known directors. Includes a foreword by Franco Nero, the iconic Italian actor, producer and director, and an addendum by Alan Sekers, focusing on the influence of Jean-Luc Godard.
"Matthews doesn't hold back when it comes to detail, and this makes for a fascinating read as we uncover a whole new perspective on the well-worn history of underground London."
Shindig!
"But Simon Matthews weaves a web around the story of Tinto Brass, adding dozens of links with people and organisations from the underground, the avant-garde, the rock scene, and the movie world. (Just like Julian Palacios did in Dark Globe, but around Syd Barrett and the early Floyd.)
In that aspect, it is much more than a Tinto Brass biography. Just like the title predicts, it gives an overview o
