Ben Building: Mussolini, Monuments and Modernism

Overview

Having previously investigated the architecture of Hitler and Stalin's regimes, Jonathan Meades turns his attention to another notorious 20th-century European dictator, Mussolini. His travels take him to Rome, Milan, Genoa, the new town of Sabaudia and the vast military memorials of Redipuglia and Monte Grappa. When it comes to the buildings of the fascist era, Meades discovers a dictator who couldn't dictate, with Mussolini caught between the contending forces of modernism and a revivalism that harked back to ancient Rome. The result was a variety of styles that still influence architecture today. Along the way, Meades ponders on the nature of fascism, the influence of the Futurists, and Mussolini's love of a fancy uniform.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

June 1, 2016

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United Kingdom

Production

BBC

Cast

Jonathan Meades

Director

Francis Hanly

Writer

Jonathan Meades

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt5772648