Swept Away

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly violent "love story".
Review: I am a great fan of Giancarlo Giannini. He certainly is very handsome and has a cute body in this movie. But I didn't see anything romantic or funny about a man slapping a woman around to "put her in her place". Neither did my husband, who said, "He hits her like it's nothing". I'm still trying to understand why he hits her and why she falls in love with him. Giancarlo does have a beautiful face though.

Rating:
Summary: Lina Wertmuller's best
Review: I am not a huge fan of Lina Wertmuller, but I really enjoy this movie, and it was one of the first DVDs I bought. To me it's just a great romance. Great ending. Very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and funny movie with a pathetic ending
Review: I love all of this movie except the end. It's about a rich lady and a laborer stranded on an island. At first, the rich lady is arrogant and demanding. Soon it occurs to the laborer that there is no reason to take her abuse, and he turns the tables on her and starts to dominate and abuse her. She loves it. They fall in love thanks to his new attitude. This couple is so cute. One of the things I like about them is that even though he'll slap her, he wouldn't really hurt her. The blissful couple doesn't want to be rescued. But the man decides that the only way to really be sure of his lady's true love is to be rescued and have her give up her wealthy life for him, returning to the island with him. She begs him not to do that. She knows herself a lot better than he does.

Rating:
Summary: Good film with one very memorable line
Review: I saw this film over ten years ago, but to this day one line sticks with me wherever I go. As the guy finds himself trapped on the deserted island and begins to hunt for civilization and a way off the island, he comes across a small stone chapel.

After searching the one-room chapel that is obviously deserted he exclaims, "Christ on the cross, worse than coca-cola!"

Great line as it is very telling. Even on a deserted island, your likely to find one of two things, because they are everywhere in the world: christianity or coca-cola. It's a philosophical statement on the human condition with regards to consumerism and religion in the world today.

Rating:
Summary: Sex and Violence
Review: I saw this movie in an Italian film class. My professor, like the majority of the reviewers here, sees Wertmüller's message of class distinctions in Italian society and gender relationships in civilization easily and applauds her vision. Myself and quite a few of the students in his class cannot. Speaking only for myself, I say that I cannot understand why her message must be polluted with S&M behavior and borderline sexual assault. As an artist I know that there are an infinite number of ways to communicate the differences of class, political ideologies, and sexual relationships without depending on kinky sex and violence. But I also know that censorship is a hateful thing. And so, my review serves as a sort of warning: you will see Oscar-caliber acting, direction and cinematography, but you will also see a very ugly side of humanity, one that I can't agree with.

Rating:
Summary: A Wild Comedy
Review: I was taken by suprise by this while I was watching television. I immediately ran out and picked it up for myself. First off I want to make it clear that although there is some violence toward women in this Wertmuller is NOT a hater of women. The violence is to show how weak the male characters are to the strength of the women oin the story(THe very end makes that clear). In every film I have seen by Lina Wertmuller the women always come out ahead in the sticky rocky ride of modern Italian relationships.
I was floored at this films mix of politics and comedy which is a mix Wertmuller was never afraid to use as often in her career as Hitchcock used "the common man accused of a crime and catching the killer to prove himself innocent".
The performances are amazing and this film ranks amnong the best in the directors career. Highly recommended even if the quality of the dvd is a little off par.

Rating:
Summary: VINTAGE WERTMUELLER, WITH A GREAT MUSICAL SCORE
Review: It's true that Lina doesn't date well - her politics are so out in front. But if one understands and loves Italian culture, there's much to be savored in such films as PASQUALE SEVEN BEAUTIES and this gem from the mid-seventies. Please don't be distracted by any ranting from humorless PC types who don't get the joke: their snorts are the equivalent of a gay politico thinking MR. RIPLEY was homophobic. Ennio Guaneri's cinematography here is splendid, but the greatest element (alonsgide Melato's performance - that queen of Milanese cynicism) is Piero Piccioni's ethereal guitar and bossa-nova score as directed by Berto Pisano (composer of "Kill Them All"). One should be so lucky as to own a copy of this soundtrack. I hope Lina can make a comeback stateside since her fall from favor in '79 with A NIGHTFULL OF RAIN. The lady studied under Fellini, and she has a probing social conscience, which is more than can be said for most US filmmakers chasing a buck.

Rating:
Summary: A Funny, Poignant Film
Review: Lina Wertmuller directed this wonderful story, and has produced a collector's item. Giancarlo Gianini and Mariangela Melato are marvelous together, and brought laughter and tears for their magnificence as an acting duo. You musn't miss this one if you are a foreign film buff.... even if you are not, but like fine acting.

Rating:
Summary: Steamy and Provocative, a Deliciously Comic Italian Treat!
Review: Lina Wertmuller has certainly proven herself to be one of the best female directors of all time. And he made film history when he got nominated for Best Director in 1976 for 'Seven Beauties' which is her best film and marked her second pairing with Giancarlo Giannini, who was also nominated for Best Actor. This was their first pairing and remains one of the most provocative and saucy of all films. A richly comic Italian gem that has images and scenes that linger in the mind long afterwards. Mairangela Melato is great as the bitching rich and uptight but beautiful blonde who believes in class superiority and never gets off Giannini's back during the first third of the film. But once they are marooned on a desert island their roles are quickly reversed until Melato is literally kissing Giannini's feet. Wertmuller tackles a lot of political and sexist issues along the way. Some of the sexist material may offend some (especially women). Some women are not too fond of the idea of a woman lowering herself to the level of being a mere servant and sex slave. But let's not forget that a woman put this exquisitely stingy premise on the screen and she must have had her reasons. Both actors are flawless in their roles. Guanine's look is intense and Melato's beauty is intoxicating. The ending is both emotionally wrenching and strangely comic. Extras: the complete title is; Swept Away... by an unusual destiny in the blue sea of August. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!

Rating:
Summary: the best film is italian film
Review: man and woman caught on deserted island. everyone groans -- we've heard this story a million times before. however, if you've not observed it through the eyes of lina wertmuller, you're at a disadvantage. in showing this movie to a few friends, i found so many get caught up on the scenes where the male, southern italian deck-hand and wealthy, northern capitalist female abuse eachother. one must look past the surface though, and disregard the notion of the politically correct, non-dominating male we all know and love today (in america, anyway...). with the two left alone on a deserted island -- "back to nature" if you will -- their class ranks, political affiliation, economical status are all left to the "civilised world". in watching the film it is interesting to see their rolls gradually reverse due to the change in environment. this is only the tip of the deeper-meaning iceberg and i hope those who watch this film are able to set their p.c., western political thought mindset aside and see past a few crass terms and slaps on the cheek. this is a wonderful movie, perfect for discussion and debate and wildly entertaining at the same time.