Carlo an Italian writer of certain fame, spends his time in the Roman apartment he shares with Silvia, his wife, and a country house which he uses to write and where he keeps a passionate relationship with his young mistress Lu, a horse trainer. Carlo and Silvia have what is commonly known as an open marriage. Silvia knows about Carlo seeing Lu, and vice versa. It is a convenient arrangement for the three people involved in the equation.
All is going well until one day Silvia mentions she is seeing a young muscled younger man that is a neo fascist. The news creates a change in the dynamics in his arrangement with Silvia. Carlo becomes curious as to what is really going on between his wife and her new man. With the new development, Carlo's life begins to take a new direction, something he never expected to see. After all, he had been quite content with the change brought when the idea of an arrangement in an otherwise crumbling marriage. Jealousy starts eating Carlo to the point he begins spying on Silvia, something that will make him realize how deep is his wife real relationship with the young lover. Carlo suddenly feels like a deceived husband, something he did not figure into the equation.
Mario Martone, adapting Goffredo Parise novel, goes for the sexual aspects of the story. There is a lot of graphic sex which may shock viewers, although it is done with a certain amount of taste. Silvia's involvement with her young lover will have fatal consequences as she is clearly completely debased by the passion she feels for the man that asks her to engage in acts she never experienced. Carlo, who starts being a cool headed man, suddenly realizes he cared for Silvia more than he let her know.
Fanny Ardant is seen as Silvia. She has to be given a lot of credit for the way she approached her role which demands a lot from her, or for any actress that would have played the woman that will go so far as being used as a sexual object. Michele Placido is wonderful as Carlo. His cool approach to the writer in the film is one of the best roles he has done in the cinema. Young Giovanna Giuliani, as Lu, is not seen too much, but she is a lovely young woman and one can see the attraction she must have been for Carlo.
The film has a great look due to Cesare Accetta's excellent camera work. Mario Martone directed with sure hand showing his affinity to the material.
All is going well until one day Silvia mentions she is seeing a young muscled younger man that is a neo fascist. The news creates a change in the dynamics in his arrangement with Silvia. Carlo becomes curious as to what is really going on between his wife and her new man. With the new development, Carlo's life begins to take a new direction, something he never expected to see. After all, he had been quite content with the change brought when the idea of an arrangement in an otherwise crumbling marriage. Jealousy starts eating Carlo to the point he begins spying on Silvia, something that will make him realize how deep is his wife real relationship with the young lover. Carlo suddenly feels like a deceived husband, something he did not figure into the equation.
Mario Martone, adapting Goffredo Parise novel, goes for the sexual aspects of the story. There is a lot of graphic sex which may shock viewers, although it is done with a certain amount of taste. Silvia's involvement with her young lover will have fatal consequences as she is clearly completely debased by the passion she feels for the man that asks her to engage in acts she never experienced. Carlo, who starts being a cool headed man, suddenly realizes he cared for Silvia more than he let her know.
Fanny Ardant is seen as Silvia. She has to be given a lot of credit for the way she approached her role which demands a lot from her, or for any actress that would have played the woman that will go so far as being used as a sexual object. Michele Placido is wonderful as Carlo. His cool approach to the writer in the film is one of the best roles he has done in the cinema. Young Giovanna Giuliani, as Lu, is not seen too much, but she is a lovely young woman and one can see the attraction she must have been for Carlo.
The film has a great look due to Cesare Accetta's excellent camera work. Mario Martone directed with sure hand showing his affinity to the material.
