| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ole Søltoft | ... | Adam | |
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Vivi Rau | ... | Maj / Eva |
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Søren Strømberg | ... | Aksel Hansen |
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Annie Birgit Garde | ... | Maria |
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Ulla Jessen | ... | Bicky |
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Paul Hagen | ... | Ingeniør Poulsen |
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Karl Stegger | ... | Borgmester |
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Arthur Jensen | ... | Hr. Madsen |
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Vic Salomonsen | ... | Fru Madsen |
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Bjørn Puggaard-Müller | ... | Ramlenberger |
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Otto Brandenburg | ... | Ramlenbergers assistent |
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Dario Campeotto | ... | Italiener |
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Tom Wilke | ... | Italiener |
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Kate Mundt | ... | Jean Thompson |
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William Kisum | ... | Stadsingeniør |
Adam Petersen is a workaholic, running an international engineering firm specializing in water treatment facilities. His lovely young wife, May, pays the price for Adam's dedication to his work - she's lonely, bored and horny! Adam has just hired Aksel Hansen as his new sales director. Aksel believes that the key to boosting their flagging business is entertaining prospective clients with wine and women - which goes against Adam's Puritanical nature. Aksel's supply of women comes from his friend Maria's "SubRosa" escort service. He gives Adam one of their brochures, which inadvertently falls into May's hands. Seeing this as an exciting alternative to her unfulfilling life as a housewife, she soon signs on with "SubRosa". Everything goes swimmingly, as May - under her working name, Eva - "escorts" a whole host of male (and female) clientele. Swimmingly, that is, until "SubRosa" is called upon to entertain a gathering of municipal leaders ... who just happen to be prospective clients of...
Sometimes you stumble upon interesting experiences in strange corners like old soft porn. Sometimes not.
This was not. I sought it out in reaction to "Belle de Jour." Its a much celebrated movie, economical and deep. But the economy is too self assured and overstated, and the depth is only by reference to other films and life. Being loved, sexual companionship, loneliness, all only referenced for us to flesh out.
Here's much the same story done in much the same way. Except the economy here is a matter of cinematic incompetence, but should it really matter? And the tone is light humor colored by voyeurism rather than a dark meditation on the lonely nature of the soul.
But for me, these are one and the same. And in both cases, it all depends on the actress. There are some things you cannot invent, and seductive distance is one of them. Deneuve is a good actress who actually understands the various disturbances her directors plan. But she just wasn't able to carry her film.
This belle is played by Vivi Rau, already a regular porn star. This is her first soft core role. She made a career in being sexual with innocent looks, with an open face. She had already lived what she was showing. Catherine never did.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.