Appassionata: Passionate

a Passion for loneliness.

Appassionata, AKA Passionate is a 1974 Boccaccio (Italian sex drama or something like that but more artsy than sexy) film about a somewhat dysfunctional family that premiered in the USA and outside Europe in 1985 (boy that's almost ten years) Describing this movie according to today's standards of film making can be a rather challenging task but, what the hell, we love movies! 

Director Istvan Ventilla smoothly depicts a rather shocking theme with ease. 

The Rutelli are a dysfunctional middle-class family. Dr. Emilio Rutelli(an excellent performance by experienced actor Gabriele Ferzetti) spends his weekdays at his dental office. To him life seems good and fair with the exception being his marital life. Her wife, Elisa (magnificent impersonation by the great Valentina Cortese) has developed a severe bipolar disorder that has her confined to her house. Her days are all about going instantly from crying to laughing out loud. This painful situation has set the mood for what's to come in the story of the Rutellis. 

Nicola & Eugenia.

Premium dentist service.

Emilio & Elisa's only daughter, Eugenia (Ornella Muti) spends her teenagehood between her high school duties and taking care of her mother while serving his dad at the same time. Soon enough, Eugenia will start bringing along her classmate Nicola (Italian bombshell Eleonora Giorgi) whenever they need to study. The problem is, Eugenia's mother is so sick that neither Eugenia nor his father can lead a normal family life. Hence, the dark side of each Rutelli family member. On the one hand Dr. Rutelli sex life is non existant, so Nicola comes in as handy as ever. Her character is that of a sex driven teenage girl who is simply too hot for school, and also a very smart girl who knows what to do in order to get what she wants. on the other hand, Elisa's absentmindedness will boost her husband & daughter's dark side.

If there was a way to describe the film in one word, I'd say this movie is "loneliness" in the most pure state, depicted with a twisted delicacy. Each character faces loneliness according to where they're at at the moment. The old man is not looking for the rejuvenating sensation, he's looking for someone who can make him feel a man again. Nicola, who's sexually experienced since the first moment her charisma is shown, is very likely looking for a father figure, the protector kind (this is an assumption, not a fact because her past or family situation is never explained) Elisa Rutelli, is definitely another solitary tormented soul. Her situation makes you feel really sad about her. She truly loves her husband and daughter, but they don't seem to be very interested in her anymore. Actually, they have grown tired of her and the secret or not so secret plan Dr. Rutelli and her daughter have is to move her to a psychiatric institution as soon as possible so that father and daughter can restart a happier life. 

a good woman, an innocent bystander.

Mean bitch.

I know, I know, you're all wondering "what does Ornella Muti's character do in the movie?" it just so happens, that despite the marketing done for this film,  Muti's character is merely a supporting role, rather than a leading one. The lead role (Dr. Rusetti) is well established at the beginning of the movie. Now, her role is not to be diminished as she is the time bomb  that will have every characters' eyes wide open. Eugenia is there to let you know how miserable your life is. In fact, if you want to find what's shocking about this movie, all you have to do is to pay close attention to her persona. In a nutshell, Eugenia is deeply confused teenager. She simply misunderstands what's her role in her father's life with an absent mother. Yes, you read that correctly: Eugenia is jealous of Nicola's sex driven relationship with his daddy so she decides to take the matters on her own, only to find a sound minded father (luckily)  

Despite being in her early beginnings as an actress, Ornella Muti  moved on quite quickly from cliched teenage roles (innocent, daddy's girl, virgin, etc) to more somber characters. it is in this movie where her true talent is finally unraveled. Muti never did a film that was below her standards of acting. Unlike many or most of the sexploitation starlets, she was the one and only who could perform. Her nude scenes were never random, they all had reasons to be. 

Kinky daughter isn't she?

Some friend!

I highly recommend this Italian drama. The most experienced characters deliver great performances. Specially Valentina Cortese, who makes you feel truly sorry about her and truly angry about her husband & daughter.

Eleonora Giorgi, would also become a well known Italian actress (well, not as much as Ornella Muti) she would act in many exploitation & sexploitation films. Some of her most important films were Phenomena, Inferno & Diary Of a Cloistered Nun. The S.P.A.M. Alternative team will review those films in a not so distant future.

 
Appassionata is available in two versions: an Italian version which censors out the full-frontal nudity (which is hardly the most offensive thing in this movie), and a badly-dubbed English which is very confusing and seems to leave out a lot of plot points but still, it features the whole deal, no censorship.
 

I'd recommend this movie to fans of beautiful Italian actresses, but be prepared to possibly be offended and definitely confused!

"If I can fuck your dad, I'm sure you can too"

Nip Slip.

I found no trailer but here's a nice excerpt to help you understand how mean Ornella Muti's character can be: