Passione d'Amore

An Italian costume drama set in the 19th century, about a dashing young cavalry officer and his love. Senso, alas, it is not. After interminable mopings when the lovers are separated by his transfer to a remote frontier post, things brighten up momentarily with the appearance of a mysterious woman bearing a marked resemblance to Murnau's Nosferatu. Her looks apparently suffered in an illness following an early amorous deception. Now, requiring to be treated with the forbearance befitting an officer and a gentleman, she battens onto our hero's affections like a vampire on heat. Probably only Buñuel could have got away with the grotesque romantic tushery whereby the enormity of her passion finally conjures a response, and the pair soar together in a bout of amour fou. Po faced nonsense with cardboard characters, it has excellent camerawork and nicely dry supporting performances from Trintignant and Blier.