The Seduction of Mimi

Known for her broad satirical forays into the minefields of sex, politics and class,  Fellini disciple Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties) was a big art-house favourite — and just about the world’s most prominent female director — in the 1970s. Her films, provocative, parodic and decidedly un-PC, were also highly contentious, and often raised major feminist hackles (Swept Away in particular). The Seduction of Mimi, her fifth feature, brought Wertmüller to international attention, and was the first of three hits starring Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato in the leads. Giannini is Mimi, a would-be communist in Sicily whose loses his labouring job after failing to support the Mafia’s candidate in an election. Leaving beleaguered wife Rosalia (Agostina Belli) behind, Mimi travels to Torino to look for work, and falls into a torrid affair with Fiore (Melato), a sexually liberated anarchist. When he is transferred back to Sicily, Mimi proves less than tolerant of Rosalia’s own liberation. "A brainy, rowdy comedy of bad manners and low politics. It moves fast" (Jay Cocks, Time). "Inventive farce comedy...Melato is particularly outstanding...Giannini is bravissimo [and] Turi Ferro is memorable in six different Mafia roles" (Variety). Colour, 35mm, in Italian with English subtitles. 121 mins.