Astrological Correspondences in Fellini's ''Casanova''
In his screenplay [{{cite book
| last = Fellini
| first = Federico
| coauthors = Bernardino Zapponi, Trans. Claudia Cremasco
| title = Casanova
| publisher = Heinemann
| series = Script and Director
| date = 1997
| location = Portsmouth, NH
| url = http://books.google.com/books/about/Fellini_s_Casanova.html?id=93RZAAAAMAAJ
| isbn = 0-435-07020-7}}
],
Fellini uses the literary conceit of a retrograde Venus to represent each of Casanova's major lovers. Because of cutting, rewriting, and Fellini's spontaneous improvisations, the original script's sequence is obscured. From Maddalena the Nun to Susanna the Hunchback, Casanova traverses the astrological zodiac in reverse order searching for the perfect woman till he encounters his mother, then his daughter, and finally a mechanical doll. Here is a list of correspondences:
| LOVER | ICON | SIGN |
| Maddalena | Nun | Pisces | EXALTATION |
| Barberina | Fat | Cetus |
| AnnaMaria | Bleeding | Aquarius |
| Madame D'Urfé | Wizardry | Capricorn |
| Marcolina | Horses | Sagittarius |
| Fiorenza | Condoms | Scorpio | DETRIMENT (cut) |
| Henriette | Grace | Libra | RULER |
| Mother & Daughter | Witches | Virgo | FALL |
| Giant Woman | Circus | Leo |
| Ismail | MoonPool | Cancer | (cut from film) |
| Young Girl | Youths | Gemini | (cut from film) |
| Isabella | Beauty | Taurus | RULER (rewritten) |
| Susanna | Beasts | Aries | DETRIMENT |
| | | | |
| | | | |
The screenplay itself provides evidence for Fellini's intention to include astrological associations. The icon list above mentions only one such reference per related scene. Casanova falls in love with two women: Henriette and Isabella. Each represents an astrological sign where Venus rules: Libra and Taurus. (In the movie, the scenes with Isabella are replaced by a Roman orgy followed by two sisters who practice alchemy, one of whom is named Isabella.) Contrariwise, when Casanova encounters women representing astrological signs where Venus is in astrological detriment, Scorpio and Aries, a hunchback appears. Casanova is most exalted at the beginning of the movie, during the festival of Venus, with a young nun who represents Pisces, the astrological sign where Venus is exalted. Casanova begins his fall from grace when he unpleasantly breaks up with a mother and daughter. Virgo is associated with Demeter, or Ceres, goddess of the harvest time, and also with the astrological sign where Venus has fallen. Obviously, Fellini cared more about making a cinematically sensible movie than following a rigid esoteric formula. Perhaps only Donald Sutherland can tell us if the deleted scenes were ever filmed.
4. Fellini, Federico with Bernardino Zapponi. (1997). Casanova. Trans. Claudia Cremasco. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. ISBN 0-435-07020-7.
{{cite book
| last = Fellini
| first = Federico
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Bernardino Zapponi, Trans. Claudia Cremasco
| title = Casanova
| publisher = Heinemann
| series = Script and Director
| volume =
| edition =
| date = 1997
| location = Portsmouth, NH
| pages =
| language =
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0-435-07020-7
| mr =
| zbl =
| jfm = }}
LOVER ICON SIGN
Maddalena Nun Pisces EXALTATION
Barberina Fat Cetus
AnnaMaria Bleeding Aquarius
Madame D'Urfé Wizardry Capricorn
Marcolina Horses Sagittarius
Fiorenza Condoms Scorpio DETRIMENT (cut)
Henriette Grace Libra RULER
Demeter & Witches Virgo FALL
Persephone
Giant Woman Circus Leo
Ismail MoonPool Cancer (cut from film)
Young Girl Youths Gemini (cut from film)
Isabella Beauty Taurus RULER (rewritten)
Susanna Beasts Aries DETRIMENT