Directed & Story By: Brunello Rondi Written By: Brunello Rondi, Ugo Guerra & Luciano Martino Cinematography: Carlo Bellero Editor: Mario Serandrei
Cast: Daliah Lavi, Frank Wolff, Anna Maria Aveta, Dario Dolci, Francs Mazzoni, Rossana Rovere
A lonely, sexually-uninhibited young peasant is subjected to an exorcism after she hexes a man who rejects her advances.
This is a film I had never heard of before and stumbled upon. Definitely did not regret it.What will attract many to this film is the lead played by Daliah Levi, She is amazing in her role and quite gorgeous. That you can see why so many are tempted by her. She throws herself into the role even more physically in one acne where she continuously contorts her body. She is as beautiful as the cinematography throughout.
This is an obsessive love story that turns into madness and questionable passion or a growing mental illness that seems to grow into group hysteria. By the end of the film there is barely anyone who is truly innocent.
This film can be seen as a precursor or maybe even an early inspiration for Isabelle Adjani’s Iconic performance in POSSESSION
The film plays out as a neorealist Italian movie with religious overtones and folk horror elements.
The film plays out a tragedy really as for all of those supposedly scared of her. She is ultimately a victim throughout. As most of the men who are trying to save or cure her either violate or viciously attack her. All of them so called holy and come down with her throw her away. Even the man she is in love with who blames his lust for her. All on her as some kind of spell.
At first her lover does come across as a victim but becomes a villain by the end. As the film tries to showcase what has led him to this path. His own mind of mental breakdown is tied into religion, lust and folklore.
This film definitely shows how misogynistic and exploitive those so called true believers are when it comes to women and especially if they show any sexuality or seem to enjoy sex
GRADE: B-
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