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Anyone who knows me knows i am a fan of Italian "exploitation" cinema in its every genres, from Giallo's to Cannibal fares, from Black Emanuelle to Lucio Fulci . Giallos in particular represent a fascinating genre of Italian cinema, mixing a traditional Italian sense of beauty, macabre stories and mystery. Pretty much all Giallos center around a mystery (a classic whodunit) involving elaborate and graphic murders, all wrapped in often amazing soundtracks, cinematography and art direction. Just give films such as Don'T Torture A Duckling (1972), Bird With The Crystal Plumage, The (1970), Tenebre (1982), or Who Saw Her Die? (1972) a try to get a sense of the genre. And of course, you must give Forbidden Photos Of A Lady Above Suspicion (1970) a try too as it's one of the best out there. From the late 60's to the early 70's, the genre literally exploded with trail blazing films.
Minou (Dagmar Lassander, one of the 70's sex icons) is a rich woman who recently married Peter (Pier Paolo Capponi), a business man deep in debt who is about to launch a new product. But was the marriage born out of love, or does Peter have other plans? When Minou starts being blackmailed by a mystery man one day, she enlists the help of her best friend Dominique (the gorgeous Nieves Navarro), a sexually liberated society woman, and the pair launch into a detective operation to uncover the truth. But when Minou finds an erotic photograph of Dominique along with the mystery man who is tormenting and blackmailing her, she starts having doubts about Dominique's real intentions.
The story is quite convoluted, and if you don't follow it closely, you are likely to miss a few twists and turns. But what the movie lacks in overall narrative cohesiveness (a trait common to many Giallos), it makes up in style and "gorgeousness". Every frame of this film is carefully composed, and the sets and costumes are simply jaw dropping. Add in a magical score from none other than Ennio Morricone, and the whole package is one of a kind. This is ultimately what this film is about. It's a pleasure for the senses, and the story is interesting, but functions more as a structure to set-up various interconnected moody scenes, than to create a specific narrative.
Part Alfred Hitchcock, part Horror, part Italian, this film combines different genres, approaches and aesthetics to create a unique package that captivates. It's a film that you can immerse yourself into, and appreciate for its elaborate beauty and the craftsmanship that went into each and every scenes. The music adds an additional layer of dreamy like mood that matches the state of the protagonists. This is a film that has simply been designed well from the ground up.
- Laurent Hasson |
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