This is a classy-looking movie set in late Renaissance-era Venice where a young man (Jason Connery, son of Sean) carries on a sexual affair with an older Italian noblewoman(Laura Antonelli). There's also a kind of "upstairs-downstairs" thing going on as the young man's servant also gets together with the noblewoman's voluptuous lady-in-waiting (Monica Guerritori), except that it's literally kind of reversed. At one point the servants are "upstairs" having sex in the attic and stop for a moment to spy on their master and mistress who are also having sex "downstairs" on the floor below. And, of course,there is also a near lesbian scene between Antonelli and Guerritori. Actually, despite the historical setting and the arty trappings, I can't help but suspect that this is really just meant to be another Italian "sexy film" to show off the young,nubile body of Guerritori and the mature but still gorgeous body of Laura Antonelli (with Jason Connery, of course, for the ladies). There's nothing wrong with that though I guess.
Strangely, French actress Annie Belle also has a small role here, and even more strangely keeps her clothes on. (Whereas Antonelli and Guerritori were fairly talented actresses who only appeared butt- naked in the classiest Italian art films, Belle was not really actress, but did pretty the same thing in some of the sleaziest Italian exploitation films ever made like "House by the Edge of the Park"). The period setting is pretty convincing and the Venetian scenery is truly beautiful (The good thing about seeing Venice on film is you don't have to SMELL Venice, which isn't such a pleasurable experience). The music is also above par.
This isn't an incredibly compelling movie dramatically (it's perhaps a bit too much of an self-indulgent European sex romp), but it's certainly nice to look at.
Strangely, French actress Annie Belle also has a small role here, and even more strangely keeps her clothes on. (Whereas Antonelli and Guerritori were fairly talented actresses who only appeared butt- naked in the classiest Italian art films, Belle was not really actress, but did pretty the same thing in some of the sleaziest Italian exploitation films ever made like "House by the Edge of the Park"). The period setting is pretty convincing and the Venetian scenery is truly beautiful (The good thing about seeing Venice on film is you don't have to SMELL Venice, which isn't such a pleasurable experience). The music is also above par.
This isn't an incredibly compelling movie dramatically (it's perhaps a bit too much of an self-indulgent European sex romp), but it's certainly nice to look at.