Cult Epics | Buy at Amazon | Review by Doug Waltz
Marta (Anna Jimskaia) is the recently-wed wife of Dario (Max Parodi). Dario is attending an international book fair and his career as a publisher depends on it. Although they have only been married a short time, the fire has gone out of their lovemaking. Sylvia (Nela Lucic) tells Marta that she should take a lover as long as she sets down strict ground rules. The lover is only allowed access to her nether regions. She must keep the rest of her for her husband to make the sex with Dario satisfying as well.
It isn't long before Marta meets Leon (Riccardo Marino), a French designer/photographer that is more than agreeable with the suggested arrangement. They meet in a museum and he starts groping her. She makes a feeble attempt at resisting but only the sudden appearance of a class of art students stops them from going farther.
As with all of Tinto Brass' films, the scenery is gorgeous, the woman are gorgeous, Hell, the whole movie is gorgeous. I really liked the multicolored, painted ladies room where Marta and Sylvia chat about taking lovers. And since it's a Tinto Brass movie, they do this with the doors open and no shame.
MONAMOUR is Tinto Brass' most recent film and it brings with it everything we come to expect from The Ass Man. While Jess Franco is enamored with a woman's pubic regions, Tinto Brass shows the same affection for a woman's backside. Lead actress, Anna Jimskaia is a delight to watch as she shakes, shimmies and moans her way through the film. Her early training as a circus acrobat and gymnast make for a delightful form.
The movie starts a little sad as you can see the frustration she has with the poor sex she experiences with her husband. When she finally succumbs to Leon's charms she realizes that she is in charge and can satiate her sexual heat without breaking the rules laid down by her friend Sylvia.
Unfortunately, this isn't new ground for Tinto. A lot of his recent films like THE KEY and FALLO deal with similar storylines. I think it's safe to say that Tinto has mined this territory for all it's worth and the only reason to watch them anymore is to see what new, delightful actress he will put in front of his lens.
Hopefully, his next film, WHO KILLED CALIGULA?, will be more like the old Tinto Brass that we have all come to know and love.
As for MONAMOUR... at least the lead actress is pretty.
