Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageVenus in Furs (1968)
Director: Massimo Dallamano
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Not to be confused with the Jess Franco version released the following year, this is an updated, softcore adaptation of Leopold Sacher- Masoch's novel about voyeurism, the fetishistic thrill of fur, and the desire to be sexually dominated. Through fantasy, role-playing and sexual experiment, bland hunk Severin (Kasche) and his blonde lover Wanda (Antonelli) explore the power dynamics of their relationship: 'Each day Wanda seems more beautiful to me,' reflects Severin, 'but what is a woman's beauty compared with her cruelty?' Much of the coupling and lashing is coyly filmed from behind strategically placed foreground objects, but those with a tolerance for repeated zoom shots, atrocious dubbing and irritating '60s muzak may find this titillating. More problematic is an extended scene, filmed subjectively through the manacled Severin's mask, which depicts the rape of a maid by an animalistic man. Surely it is the maid and not Severin who is being humiliated here, a misogynist slide that is compounded by the suggestion that she eventually begins to enjoy it. Sleazy this may be, subversive it ain't.Author: NF
Cast & crew
Director: Massimo Dallamano
Producer: Luggi Waldleitner
Cast: Laura Antonelli, Renate Kasche, Ewing Loren, Peter Heeg, Mady Rahl, Werner Pochath full cast
Duration: 87 mins
Top Stories
Ridley Scott interview
Director Ridley Scott tells Cath Clarke why he's making a science fiction comeback
Cannes Film Festival 2012: half-time report
Dave Calhoun reports on the hits, misses and a shocking new masterpiece from Michael Haneke
What do you think?
Post your review now