Living in Los Angeles, California Ron Mael and Russell spent their childhood going to movies at least twice a week at an early age. Later Ronald Mael became involved with Cinema and Graphic Arts at UCLA as Russell Mael was in Theater Arts and Filmmaking. - read more about Maels' childhood...
Luchino Visconti's 1971 adaptation of Thomas Mann's novella "Death In Venice" visibly had a strong influence on the brothers.
In the movie Dirk Bogarde plays Gustav Von Aschenbach, an aging composer, compelled to take a convalescent holiday in Venice. But his escape becomes a silent pursuit after he sees a blonde, beautiful boy, Tadzio (played by young Bjorn Johan Anderson in a non-speaking role), with whom he becomes obsessed. Gustav Von Aschenbach admires the intentionality of Tadzio's costuming, specifically his English white sailor suit. The famous opening shot of Luchino Visconti's "Death In Venice", an extremely gradual fade-in to an ocean liner, established the film's deliberate style.
