La villa del venerdì (1991)

Director:

Mauro Bolognini

Writers:

Sergio Bazzini (writer)
Alberto Moravia (novel)

Release Date:

19 September 1991 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In the steamy tradition of "9 1/2 Weeks" and "Wild Orchid"...

Plot:

Stefan finds that he can no longer tolerate the arrangement of his cheating wife ... he, the husband...

Plot Keywords:

Troubled Marriage | Breasts | Nudity | Adulterous Wife | Harlot

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Julian Sands	...	Stefan
Joanna Pacula	...	Alina
Tchéky Karyo	...	Paolo
Lara Wendel	...	Louisa
Marco Di Stefano	...	Piero
Jeanne Valérie	...	Luisa's Mother
Veronica Del Chiappa
Ines Nobili
Sonia Topazio	...	Perla

Also Known As:

Husbands and Lovers
In Excess

Runtime:

Argentina:103 min | Spain:100 min | USA:94 min (Laserdisc version) | South Korea:91 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 (cut) | USA:Unrated (laserdisc rating) | Argentina:16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Metro Film S.r.l.

Interesting look at a perverse open marriage

Most films principally about open marriages go into the lopsidedness of the relationship, that is, usually the marriage is more "open" for one party than the other. This movie is no different. This time its the husband who is jealous when his wife seems to be almost, or more in love with her lover than with him. In a slightly unusual twist, the husband is not to hypocritical of the relationship and admits that he does not desire her physically, but just wants her mind. He soon realizes that the mind and the body are one and that if he wants one, he must satisfy the other.

Like most European films, everything is very civil and refined, except for some kinky sex on the part of the wife's lover. Unlike most European films, I found myself absorbed almost continuously in the dialog. 10 - 12 nude scenes (nine or ten by the very beautiful Pacula) also helped a lot.