VOGLIA DI GUARDARE (1986) Joe D'Amato/Laura Gemser/Lilli Carati/
1061DVD
Laura
Gemser, Jenny Tamburi & Lilli Carati in a Joe D'Amato Rarity
Original Italian title: VOGLIA DI GUARDARE (Look of Desire)
also known as MIDNIGHT GIGOLO and SCANDALOUS EMANUELLE (German
Title)
director: Joe D'Amato (Aristide Massaccesi)
starring: Jenny Tamburi · Laura Gemser · Lilli Carati · Marino Mase
· Sebastiano Somma
Similar
to D'Amato's previous film, THE
ALCOVE (which also starred both Laura Gemser and Lilli Carati),
this one is stylistically more ambitious and boasts an exceptional cast.
The film itself is rather schizophrenic, perhaps the very description
of bi-polar. In the first half, director D'Amato is surprisingly reserved,
a quality not usually associated with his work. At this point in the film,
he seems more interested in establishing the characters and their story
rather than titillating his audience.
A neglected
housewife named Christina has an affair with one of her husband's friends.
While, perhaps, it's the same tawdry plot-point as numerous other genre
films, D'Amato's approach is strikingly different here. For instance,
the sex scenes are depicted with everyone fully-clothed. Yes, the director
is most likely attempting to construct a sharp contrast with the lurid
stuff that's coming soon. But, truly, this is unexpected restraint from
Joe D'Amato. Then, the entire texture of the film changes when her lover
takes Christina to a brothel and convinces the woman to service a number
of (oddly unattractive) men. Similarities can be drawn to Luis Bunuel's
Belle Du Jour but only in passing. As it turns out [spoiler alert],
the whole thing has been masterminded by her husband Diego who secretly
owns the brothel with his mistress.
An
Italian film with English subtitles; widescreen format (16:9), totally
uncut version (88 minutes), DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT.
Extras include trailers.
Violence/Strong
Sexual Themes/Nudity/Sexual Brutality/Prostitution/Rape
for Mature Audiences Only
