La Ragazza Di Trieste: The Girl From Trieste

A must watch.

It's been a while since we left Ornella Muti's filmography behind. Today, we continue with one of her best films. La Ragazza Di Trieste AKA The Girl From Trieste, is a 1982 softcore erotic drama with a solid story that guarantees  not only a good time for Muti fans but to all quality film making fans. In the 70's Ornella Muti would star many sexploitation films that were hit and miss, but once she entered the 80's her career would go a step further. 

In her past she surely  was recognized as an Italian sexploitation starlet (along with Gloria Guida, Laura Antonelli, etc) due to her astonishing natural beauty, but in the late 70's, film makers would also acknowledge her tremendous acting skills, namely, Marco Ferreri who would have her as his star in 1976's controversial art film La Derniere Femme. In 1981 they'd team up again for another great piece based upon Charles Bukowsky's life "Tales Of Ordinary Madness" (a review is coming soon) So today's entry is another masterpiece in her career. 

La Ragazza Di Trieste is based on a novel written by Pasquale Campanile Festa, who also happens to direct the on screen adaptation.

 

The artist meets the goddess.

Nobody knows who I am.

The story of today's film in review follows the life of Dino Romani, a middle-aged artist (Ben Gazarra) that while sketching on the beach, witnesses a young woman (Ornella Muti) being rescued from drowning. He borrows her his blanket to keep her warm. As promised, she returns the blanket later and "in return" they spend the night together making the beast (Yes, I'm a Shakespeare fan) Such night would happen again several time making things become more complicated as Dino begins to fall in love with this mysterious bombshell  who leaves right after sex leaving no trace of her whereabouts.  After doing some research Dino finds out her real name is Nicole and that everything she told him about her life seems to be a lie.

Muti (above mentioned) is excellent in this movie, but it's really hard to believe her role is about a girl who's searching for everlasting love without any luck at all. Watching someone who has been chosen several times as the most beautiful women in the world in scenes where she has call men attention at the risk of her life makes you think  the producers should have chosen another actress in order to deliver a more believable reality but then again, movies aren't perfect.

If life gives you lemons.

"C'mon, one more facial for the good ol' times"

With her beauty set aside, we find out Nicole is an escapee from a mental institution suffering from bipolar disorder, nymphomania and pathological lying disorder. However, Her gorgeous body and amazing bedroom skills allow poor Dino  to forgive her. Nevertheless, things aren't that simple when it comes to establishing a relationship with someone who isn't healthy in the head.

By the time Dino arrives in Trieste he has no clue about who this sexually appealing character is but if you pay close attention to the opening scenes, the beach pub baristas seem to know her very well as they say something like "there she goes again playing drowning for random strangers" So that single line is screaming at you "she's a crazy bitch, she's done it before and she'll do it again, so wraiths be warned"

Lesbian action.

Where's  the next man I will  suck dry?

The climax of the film sets a different, darker more sinister mood to it, very unexpected I might say but it works wonderfully as we finally face the truth as it is: Nicole is completely insane, she does what she pleases and she doesn't care about hurting other people's feelings, hell! she doesn't even care about hurting herself!

Overall, an entertaining but serious film that teaches us that appearances can be deceiving, and that being as beautiful as Ornella Muti is, isn't necessarily going to get you your prince charming as easy as 1,2,3. Also, this film greatly explores the concepts of madness, self-esteem, infatuation and sexuality. Unlike her previous films (mostly the ones from the 70's) this film is not a comedy so if you're expecting a good laugh, skip this one. Now, if you're looking for one of the few sexploitation films that actually have a content that is well developed this is definitely for you.

Here's the magnificent film for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of the public domain law:

Le monache di Sant'Arcangelo: The Nun & The Devil

Nuns of Sin.

The Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/Italian nunsploitation film directed by Domenico Paolella. It is also known as: Sisters of Satan (UK) and The Nuns of Saint Archangel (US). The action is set in the 16th century at the convent of Sant Arcangelo, near Naples, then under Spanish rule. The success of the film resulted in another period drama/nunsploitation film by Paolella released the same year, Story of a Cloistered Nun, an Italian/French/West German co-production starring Eleonora Giorgi which will not be reviewed today LOL

 

The coveted spot as Mother Superior is of great importance to three candidates who all yearn for such a position. Twenty minutes in Mother Julia (Played by Anne Heywood) must check between her niece's legs to see if she is a virgin. Sister Chiara (Martine Brochard), Mother Julia's secret lover, longs to have her vows revoked so she can leave the convent and not suffer emotional torment she currently endures.We see the cruelty of Catholic parents who force their daughters into the convent so that they will not run off with a boy they dislike. Mother Lavinia(Maria Cumani Cuasimodo), who many believes is first in line to the Mother Superior position has been gravely ill. Recently inducted into the convent against her will, Isabella(Ornella Muti) and the young man she loves, Fernando(Gianluigi Chirizzi), secretly court when time permits. There's a syrupy Romeo and Juliet romance between Isabella and Fernando. This is the time of arranged marriages and dowries so Isabella and Fernando's love is separated because of this.

Check that virgin twat!

Is your beaver wet enough?

In the NUNS OF SAINT ARCHANGEL, the theme very present is forbidden love. Trapped in the convent, it's not surprising that desire would arise and remain. Anyway, Julia so craves the Mother Superior position she'll poison bedridden Lavinia and send young virginal Isabella to a sleazy scoundrel named Don Carlos who arranged a passage through his connections to give her access to the top. Julia is such a deplorable creature she almost breaks out in glee as she informs Lavinia she plans to have her placed in an isolation cell(while informing her entourage where she plans to place her family's coat of arms on the wall of Lavinia's room!). And, to send your own niece to town, into Carlos' lair to be sodomized, shows the depths of her deprivation. When the Arch Bishop allows Carafo to visit the convent of Saint Archangel, Julia's whole world comes crashing down.

As nunsploitation goes, THE NUNS OF SAINT ARCHANGEL isn't as titillating as you might expect. It's more a serious look at immoral pursuits to secure the hierarchy of a church position. Carlos is a real creep who, we can imagine, is used to getting what he wants, considering his rank. Incorrigible, hypocritical activity by those who are supposed to be serving God is often exposed in the nunsploitation genre which is why it maintains such a cult following. Anne Heywood becomes so incredibly cold-blooded while obtaining her position, I reckon many will root for her downfall and as it comes, will cheer for her eventual disgracing. Though, to the director's and Heywood's credit, her fate actually somehow garners sympathy once she is given a platform to address those in charge, whose power can lend to cruel and unusual punishment to get the desired information to instill their brand of justice. I imagine some would be appalled with certain torturous methods in order to achieve confessions. 

Let's pray.

I'll rape this body in God's name.

It is almost a shame to call this one "nunsploitation", because that term may imply that it is not a film of high standard. Yes, there are some nunsploitation elements here; the seemingly evil Mother Julia, with her lesbian tendencies and her hunger for power within the confines of the nunnery, for example. However at the end of the film, when Mother Julia, played beautifully by veteran actress, Anne Heywood, is condemned to death, her human side comes out. She explains, very eloquently, her reasons for her actions. The rigid rules of convent existence in the 17th century must have been unbearable for these women. At least for the girls who were there against their will. And many of these girls were placed there by domineering families, to keep them away from lovers and other such "temptation", as in the case of young Isabella, played by Ornella Muti. Her character was neither in love with god, or with the idea of giving up her freedom to live under such constraints. 

Who needs dicks anyways.

This film deals with the subject beautifully. And although there is some nudity in the film, it is never gratuitous; There are no scenes where a nun removes her clothes unless it is absolutely relevant to the storyline. So one should be aware before watching such a film, that if they are looking for endless scenes of fetishistic "nun-sex", than this is probably the wrong film for them. The sets/cinematography are gorgeous, the nuns dress is totally authentic looking, and there is much attention given to these details. Certain scenes in particular stand out; for instance, the scenes in the flower garden, with the nuns in white walking with the blood colored roses, and the scene in the chapel, where the white sheet is lifted to reveal the new "brides of Christ", in all their "majestic virginity". That is real eroticism! And all this, accompanied by lush music and stylish film technique. It is obvious here, that the director, cared a great deal about his creation. It shows in this beautiful film. It bothers me somewhat to hear these films referred to as trash, and exploitation. In this film fans humble opinion, it is the Hollywood productions, the movies with the over paid stars, and the obscenely inflated budgets, that are the real "trash", and usually age very badly. 'Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo' however, remains a gorgeous and timeless piece of film-making. Surprisingly, i did not really like Dominici's other nun film, "Diary of A Cloistered Nun." But I recommend this one. 

Here's the entire film (it is public domain now, so it's legal to share it) courtesy of a youtuber:

I Nuovi Mostri: Viva Italia!

Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece now!

Viva Italia!  is a 1977 commedia all'italiana film, directed by Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli. Unlike a usual film with a single plot and the same characters revolving around a common main idea, this film is actually a compilation of 14 very different short stories, each with unique characters and plots. It is a sequel of the lesser known I mostri, made in 1963. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 51st Academy Awards and nope, it didn't win. The original title of the film is I Nuovi Mostri (The New Monsters) but since producers wanted to distribute it internationally, they felt the title Viva Italia! would sum up the idea behind the 14 short stories.

The film is made of 14 short stories, here's the complete list with titles:

1"L'uccellino della Val Padana" (The Bird of the Po Valley)

2 "Con i saluti degli amici" (With the greetings of friends)           

3 "Tantum ergo" (Only Then)

4 "Autostop" (Hitch-Hiking)

5 "Il sospetto"(The Suspect)

6 "Pronto soccorso"(First Aid)

7 "Mammina e mammone"(Mammina and Mommone)*

8 "Cittadino esemplare"(Role Model Citizen)*

9 "Pornodiva"(Porn Diva)*           

10 "Sequestro di persona cara" (Kidnapping, Dear)*

11 "Come una regina" (Like a Queen)

12 "Hostaria!" (The Restaurant)

13 "Senza parole" (Speechless)

14 "Elogio funebre" (Eulogy)

*The stories in red are the ones starred by Ornella Muti.

* These four stories are not a part of the international release known as "Viva Italia" which is the version being reviewed here today.

The structure of the film, although similar to the 1963 prequel, replaces the original social satire of the 60s for an updated criticism of the current state of things in the Italy of the 70's. Nevertheless, we don't need to know about Italian history or world cultures to enjoy this master piece.

This is how you fix a car you moron.

Italy's number 1 beauty export.

Viva Italia! (yes, I like this title) was released in three different editions: the integral edition, which comprises the 14 episodes above mentioned and it runs for a total of 125 minutes. the Intenational Family rated edition, and probably  the best known comes with 9 episodes in 90 minutes and the third edition is another version cut which consists of 12 episodes and lasts 104 minutes. 

Now, let's take a look at a short by short review:

1. The bird of the Po Valley by Ettore Scola
 
Ugo Tognazzi plays the husband and manager of famous singer Orietta Berti. Since he keeps on exploiting her talent to the limits, her vocal chords eventually fall short. After a failed and forced surgery, she loses her magnificent voice, but Tognazzi is one step above so, he stages an accident where she'd be crippled and forced to sing on a wheelchair. Perhaps the weakest story in the pack. Nevertheless a strong critic to the music industry that doesn't grow old.

2. With The Greetings Of My Friends.

This is perhaps the shortest short out of the 14 in the movie. Essentially, a well known mobster who happens to be walking by in a small town is surprised by a car packed with machine guns that killed him instantly. What's funny here is that every witness, denies having seen anything related to the murder, hence the name. Clearly, this story was made to demonstrate Italians know how to have a good laugh about their own cliches.
 
3. Only Then.

Italy, a country with deep Catholic roots. The "Tantun Ergo" story, named in convenient Latin (a religious language to some) essentially explains the frustration a small town has against unfinished businesses and promises made by politicians. The priest, has offered his church to help them and a mediator find a way to settle their differences but, since the crowd is so angry and dissapointed he has no way of having them convinced things can get better. Things change all of a sudden when a higher level priest accidentally comes into town and lends a hand to the situation. What's funny here is that through reading passages from the Bible and religious chants he convinces the wild crowd things will get better through God's grace.

"Mom, I gotta get rid of you ASAP or else my wife's gonna kill me"

For God's sake, get me some help to get out of this hell hole.

4.Hitch-Hiking.

Ornella Muti (in her prime I might add) plays a young hitchhiker who crosses her way with a salesman. Since, she's young and attractive,  the driver has no hesitation on hitting on her, something she dislikes with a passion. In order to get rid of the man she reads from a newspapers that a group of women have escaped recently from a prison nearby. Unfortunately, things turn out deadly wrong. 

The Restaurant.

This is perhaps the best short in terms of laughs. A frenetic style comedy set in the kitchen of a restaurant in which the two waiters Gassman and Tognazzi exchange insults and a hilarious food fight while the cook is getting their customers their meals ready.

First Aid.

This is another brilliant short that criticizes through laughter the Italian health system. When a rich man going to an important meeting finds a hurt man in Mussolini Square, he decides to take the poor man to the nearest hospital. The problem is, every hospital is either at full capacity or requires the patient to comply with certain aspects in order to be assisted. 

Like a queen of Ettore Scola

Alberto Sordi plays Franchino, a husband and son that due to intense pressure from his wife, is forced to take his elderly mother to a nursing home. Tinged with effective melancholy and often hilarious lines in some passages, the short moves quickly to dig deep into a strong criticism against the new fast-paced lifestyles of the period where the elderly seem to be nothing but a burden.

Listen to our songs while you're away.

This is a happy eulogy!

Speechless.

This segment presents Ornella Muti with all her stunning beauty as a stewardess taking a break. During that break she meets a silent man, and they both begin hitting on themselves until they sort of develop a quick love relationship. The problem is this guy doesn't speka any of the languages Muti speaks (Italian, French & English) so the relationship is build upon symbols, specially music. The short features a couple of well known songs from 1977: All By Myself by Eric Carmen & Ti Amo by Umberto Tozzi. When the lovely stewardess has to return to her duties, this silent lover brings her a radio with the songs they used to listen while together. The grand finale, will leave you speechless, believe you me.

The eulogy.

The funeral of a comedian turns into a big happiness carousel through which a histrionic Alberto Sordi pays tribute to deceased colleague. This magnificent brief episode serves as the closing of the movie, including extremely Italian customs.

Now, let's enjoy a few gems from this masterpiece EVERY connoisseur should watch at least once in their lives, because Italy is such an magnificent and influential country, everyone should fall in love with it.

Here's world famous ballad "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen:

Here's the Italian classic Ballad "Ti Amo" by Umberto Tozzi as shown in the original short Sensa Parole (Speechless) Spanish subs only:

Here's Pronto Socorsso (First Aid) Spanish audio only: