Laura and Fabrizio have been meeting every summer in the forest by her parent's summer home. Fabrizio is a solitary boy with only his dog for company; Laura a sweet but unconfident child. This summer new aspects enter into their story as both are growing up. Laura is falling in love with Fabrizio, while he displays a new sexual awareness of her masked by his malice. Things develop further when they meet Sylvia who, unlike the innocent Laura, is confident and assertive. Fabrizio develops a fascination with her, eventually bribing Laura to fetch her to the forest to join them in play.
Direction
Murgia weaponizes pastoral beauty against the viewer.
Acting
Lara Wendel's fragility creates unbearable tension.
Cinematography
Golden hour never looked this threatening.
Director
Pier Giuseppe Murgia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released amid 1970s European cinema's obsession with adolescent sexuality, it sparked censorship battles and remains banned in several countries.
Éva Ionesco was already infamous as her mother's nude photography subject; her casting layered real exploitation onto fictional.
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