Released on DVD today this little known Roman Polanski film is supposedly loosely based on the book 'Alice in Wonderland' although I can't really see the resemblance and the themes of Henry James a prominent literary realist who was known for his use of unreliable narrators and interior monologue. A reoccurring theme in the works of Henry James was the juxoposition of the old with the new and we have that here culturally, but that is as far as it goes.
I was just disappointed to see such overt misogyny in yet another film and coupled with overt sado-masochism; the kind of which could only seem radical to a teenager. These types of standards have polluted the media for far too long. I now have eye strain after having rolled them continuously. In fact the premise of this film made me want to vomit! However, I have had the misfortune of viewing worse examples.
The only resemblance I see to 'Alice in Wonderland' is the child-like quality of Nancy (Sydne Rome) who passively agrees to all kinds of sexual activities and declares her love for the one man who beats her repeatedly; rejecting the man who claims that his apathy towards her was his way of worshiping her (cough - tough choice that was - cough). The only other young woman in this film appears with clothing only once towards the end; I mean this is laughable.
I have no doubt as to the talent of Roman Polanski, but that doesn't mean that I have to grin and bear this. Why not represent Alice as someone who might have sat at the Algonquin Round Table smoking a pipe; especially as you are trying to be intellectual here? Hell no, she has to be malleable simpleton with curly blonde hair. Because these misogynists (both male and female) have been running the show for what seems like forever and like to see representations of themselves onscreen. As long as they continue to do so women are condemned to being represented as sexual objects of a lower intelligence, where naivety is a required virtue and the acceptance of physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse is insisted upon in order to be well thought of. Now don't get me wrong - whatever floats your boat - but not everyone is up for it and we would like to see representations of ourselves onscreen also.
What is this story about? A naive young American girl on vacation in Europe finds herself the victim of a gang rape by the three men that she has accepted a ride from. Upon escaping them with her T-shirt torn and breast flapping in the wind, she happens upon a villa inhabited by a former pimp who takes her as his sexual plaything whipping her and getting her to whip him, offering her to other men and humiliating her at the breakfast table. As a result she falls in love with him (*cough*) and remains in the villa for some time interacting with the neighbours and other visitors to the house. She then leaves because she realises that the film needs this action in order to end. There is some reference to philosophy, no doubt to give viewers a chance to recuperate…
The ending is the films only redeeming quality as it quite plainly shows where the real power was all along, with Nancy, who cannot be prevented from leaving when she finally decides to do so; even by the former object of her love running after the truck she escapes in. How fickle she seems leaving so suddenly on a whim which sums the whole exercise up to be stupid game played by idiots with time to waste! This is what I call "playing smart and not being clever" (Bob Marley - 'Who The Cap Fit' 1976).
Despite all of these things the performances by the actors are passable and the setting of rural Italy a wonderful backdrop. If you decide to buy this on DVD make sure that you check out the extras which are a quite a treat!
Starring: Sydne Rome, Marcello Mastroianni, Hugh Griffith, Romolo Valli, Roman Polanski
Special Features: Cast and Crew Interviews
Language: English
Running Time: 114 mins
Genre: Comedy, Advant-garde
Country: Italy/France/West Germany
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