Swept Away
by Lina Wertmüller
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Aldo Puglisi, Giancarlo Giannini, Isa Danieli, Mariangela Melato, Riccardo SalvinoDirector: Lina Wertmüller
Brand: Koch International
Cinematographer: Ennio Guarnieri
Cinematographer: Giulio Battiferri
Cinematographer: Giuseppe Fornari
Cinematographer: Stefano Ricciotti
Writer: Lina Wertmüller
Editor: Franco Fraticelli
Producer: Romano Cardarelli
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Color, Content/Copy-Protected CD, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Restored, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Koch Lorber Films
Product features:
- Digitally restored and re-mastered, this controversialic by Lina Wertm ller explores themes of sex, politics and role reversals when a man and woman of different sociales are left stranded on a deserted Mediterranean island. Starring Giancarlo Giannini, Mariangela Melato Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN Rating: NR Age: 741952306399 UPC: 741952306399 Manufacturer No
Movie Reviews of Swept Away
Movie Review: Socio-political and sexual critique couched as love story ... Excellent DVD transfer from Koch-Lorber
Summary: 5 Stars
"Travolti da un insolito destino nell'azzurro mare d'agosto" (Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August), to give it its convoluted original title, was meant as an allegory on social and class injustice as much as a battle for dominance between the sexes. It is one of Lina Wertmuller's finest films and is the one which most closely fuses her main themes of socio-political and sexual injustice.
Rich, upper-middle-class, Raffaella (Mariangela Melato), a loud-mouthed and opinionated Social Democrat from Milan, and the pampered jet-set clique she hangs out with are on a yachting holiday in the Mediterranean. They are served by a crew of poor working-class, dark skinned southerners, one of whom, Gennarino (Giancarlo Giannini), a card carrying communist, cannot abide her whiny bitchiness. As luck would have it, they end up marooned on a deserted island. Torn from their worldly moorings, they undergo a role reversal as the rich, pampered lady has to literally prostrate herself before the menial servant in order to survive. This role reversal is portrayed graphically and very brutally and will certainly have feminists and even many men cringing in disgust, especially in our era of extreme political correctness. She is smacked, beaten, almost raped, made to grovel and finally forced to acknowledge him as her "Master". Incredibly, she slowly falls in love with him. To the point where she no longer wants to be rescued when a passing ship sails within sight of their island "paradise."
The bleak ending following their rescue, where she leaves him for the privileged lifestyle she had previously been accustomed to, is pessimistic and sad and points to how things never really change in the end - the poor will always be poor, the rich rich and not even love can break through that barrier. One final irony is revealed at the end when the dominatingly abusive Gennarino is shown as a meek, almost henpecked husband, set upon by his jealous wife when she finds out that he has had an affair with the woman while marooned on the island. The closing shot of him timidly carrying her bags as he walks a respectful 2 paces behind her is unforgettable. Not at all the "Master" he made himself out to be on his little island utopia.
Much of the socio-political implications will be lost to American audiences who will see it purely as a satirical battle of the sexes. On the level of a love story it is bittersweet if not downright sad. On the level of sexual equality, it pokes a finger at the concept of male domination. On the socio-political level it is a parable and a warning that tables will turn and that the oppressed will one day arise and the ruling elite will get a taste of the injustice that they have meted out for so long.
Previously released in 1997 in a deplorable transfer by Fox-Lorber, it has finally been restored and remastered to almost pristine condition by its successor, Koch-Lorber Films. It is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio (enhanced for widescreen TV). The film was deliberately shot in soft focus and exhibits a small amount of grain but other than that, it boasts gorgeously saturated colors, deep, rich blacks and nary a nick in a film that is over 30 years old (1974). The azure-blue hues of the Mediterranean sea and sky are a joy to behold. The original Italian mono track is included as well as 2.0 Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 remixes. The sound is not that great but more than adequate for its purpose. This is after all a dialogue driven movie and Raffaella does sound obnoxiously shrill. Optional English subtitles are included. There are no extras save for some Koch-Lorber trailers. "Swept Away" comes in the same transfer as that found in Koch Lorber's Lina Wertmuller Collection but avoid that if you can. Only "Swept Away" and "Summer Night" have been fully remastered. It'd be wiser to wait till Koch-Lorber comes round to restoring and remastering the other films before getting them.
Summary of Swept Away
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mediterranean, Swept Away is Lina Wertmüller?s most famous and controversial film about sex, love and politics. On an elegant yacht cruising off the coast of Sardinia, Raffaella, a rich and stunning capitalist, enjoys tormenting Gennarino, a Communist sailor. Fate weaves a different scenario and roles become reversed when the two find themselves stranded together on a deserted island. Raffaella must submit to Gennarino in order to survive which culminates in a dramatic climax when they are rescued. They must determine if their love can survive the harsh realities of civilization.Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties) made this pointed, 1975 comedy-drama about class and sex conflicts. Mariangela Melato plays a rich woman marooned on an island with a crude sailor (Giancarlo Giannini). The two initially assume their accustomed class relationship with one another--she expects service, he grumbles about it--but then a revolution takes place and the subjugation is reversed. The film comes down on you like a hammer, but Wertmüller adroitly traces the shifting nuances of the relationship, and the two stars are excellent. Numerous scenes stick in the memory many years after one viewing. --Tom Keogh
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