(275) WOMAN FROM THE TORRID LAND (1978) Laura Gemser rarity
4959DVD
original
Italian title: LA DONNA DELLA CALDA TERRA [The Woman of the Hot
Land]
also known as DIE FRAU VOM HEISSEN FLUSS
[Woman of the Torrid River] (German)
also known as FURY and LE TROPIQUE DU
DESIR [Tropic of Desire] (French)
director: Jose Maria Forque
starring: Laura Gemser · Stuart Whitman · Pilar Velazquez · Gabriele
Tinti · Paola Sentore
Not to be confused
with HORROR
SAFARI [a different Laura Gemser/Stuart Whitman collaboration
five years later], this is wildly eccentric erotica from director Jose
Maria Forque, produced shortly after the conclusion of Joe D'Amato's Black
Emanuelle series (specifically following EMANUELLE:
ROAD OF PROSTITUTION, also made in 1978).
This one was shot in Columbia, but the locale is 'Las Cruces, Mexico'
for the story. A man and a woman (each running from undisclosed tragedies)
hitch a ride together in the back of a farmer's trailer and - to pass
the time - they begin talking about their recent relationships. They recount
how their lives had unraveled. Soon the two realize they share a common
bond and a strange attraction culminates between them with unexpected
consequences.
This is generally
considered one of the three rarest Laura Gemser films (along with UNLEASHED
PERVERSIONS OF EMANUELLEandINTERNATIONAL
PROSTITUTION). It's also one of cinema's strangest ventures into
erotica. Directed by Spanish arthouse filmmaker Jose Maria Forque [winner
of numerous awards from Cannes to Venice to Berlin's
International Film Festival since 1951], this is an odd concoction
indeed. As the movie begins with a dream and ends with a cruel riddle,
Forque is obviously interested in making a statement about human frailty
[similar to his Day of the Damned (Amanecer a Puerta Oscura)
1957], but he's also committed to producing a sex
movie. Despite the intricate character development and Alejandro Ulloa's
breathtaking camerawork, the film also wallows in many 'sledgehammer'
scenes of stark in-your-face politically-incorrect sexuality.
Of course, the main
ingredient here is Laura Gemser, excelling in a rather complicated role
during the prime of her beauty. Simply, without her, the movie would not
have worked. But the strong supporting cast cannot be ignored, especially
Pilar Velazquez as Monica. Genre fans will recognize her from many Spaghetti
Westerns (including HIS
NAME WAS HOLY GHOST) plus NUDE
GIRL FOUND DEAD IN THE PARK and SEX
ON THE BRAIN .
An
Italian film, with optional English subtitles; widescreen format, fully
uncut 75 minutes,
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT. Extras include selected
theatrical trailers.
Nudity/Strong
Scenes of Sexuality/Violence/Sexual Brutality
Recommended for Adult Audiences
