Mistress (1976)

A common thief (Depardieu) breaks into the house of a professional dominatrix (Ogier), and begins to help her "train" her clients. Though this world is alien to his experience, he finds ... See full summary »

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writers:

Barbet Schroeder, Paul Voujargol

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Bulle Ogier, André Rouyer

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Olivier
Bulle Ogier	...	Ariane
André Rouyer	...	Mario
Nathalie Keryan	...	Lucienne
Roland Bertin	...	Man in Cage
Tony Taffin	...	Emile
Holger Löwenadler	...	Gautier
Anny Bartanovski	...	Secretary
Serge Berry	...	Valet
Richard Caron	...	First Client
Pierre Devos	...	Bistro Patron
Jeanne Herviale	...	Concierge
Michel Pilorgé	...	Male Guest
Cécile Pochet	...	Female Guest

Storyline

A common thief (Depardieu) breaks into the house of a professional dominatrix (Ogier), and begins to help her "train" her clients. Though this world is alien to his experience, he finds himself falling in love with her. Eventually he discovers that she does this in order to support her son, and he attempts to help her out of this life, which she is not sure she really wants to leave.

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Plot Keywords:

male frontal nudity | male full frontal nudity | dominatrix | spanking | wig | 

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Taglines:

She will open your eyes.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #223.

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Quotes

Ariane: You had to find out for yourself! Wasn't our relationship more important? More important than satisfying your curiosity? No?

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Alternate Versions

The film was rejected for a UK cinema certificate by the BBFC in 1976 and only passed in 1981 after 4 minutes 47 secs of cuts with heavy edits made to a woman being bound and whipped, shots of abrasions after a man is whipped and subsequently probed with a needle between his buttocks, and a scene where a male client has his genitals nailed to a plank of wood and his nipples pierced. The cuts were fully waived for a UK 18 DVD certificate in 2003.

User Reviews

Like Von Sacher-Masoch's 'Venus in Furs', it's good when they get down to it

*** NB: THIS COMMENT MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. ***

The costumes in particular are dismayingly authentic and convincing, recalling original fetish heroine Diana Rigg in 60's TV series 'The Avengers.' Spike-heel ankleboots, trousers, corset, cloak and gloves all in the sleekest of black leather; add to this a purple velvet shawl, a perfect black wig and Bull Ogier's timeless bemused innocence, and a masochist's screen starlet is born. Her spot-on kinkiness is, if anything, a more cultivated progression on her English predecessor: one gruesome episode aside, she does precisely all the things you wished Emma Peel would do. In short, Schroeder's feature's impact is greatest at its most simple and straightforwardly visual i.e. when Arianne dons the leathers, wields her whips and coolly dispenses the sport to her minions. If (like me) this is your chief interest in the film - and it might well be - then yes, certainly, do seek it out.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

11 February 1976 (France)

Also Known As:

Mistress

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Losange, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min 107 min (1981, cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1