Husbands and Lovers
Cast: Joanna Pacula, Lara Wendel
A sophisticated young couple’s attempt at an open marriage backfires in this adaptation of Alberto Moravia’s novel “The Friday Villa”. By mutual consent, the wife Alina spends weekends with a lover while her husband Stefan satisfies himself with sex from prostitutes. But the arrangement becomes untenable for Stefan when he learns that Alina’s affair has become dangerously sadomasochistic.
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Most films principally about open marriages go into the lopsidedness of the relationship,that is, usually the marriage is more “open” for one party than the other.
This movie is no different. This time its the husband who is jealous when his wife seems to be almost, or more in love with her lover than with him. In a slightly unusual twist, the husband is not to hypocritical of the relationship and admits that he does not desire her physically, but just wants her mind. He soon realizes that the mind and the body are one and that if he wants one, he must satisfy the other.
Like most European films, everything is very civil and refined, except for some kinky sex on the part of the wife’s lover. Unlike most European films, I found myself absorbed almost continuously in the dialog. 10 – 12 nude scenes (nine or ten by the very beautiful Pacula) also helped a lot. ( comment from IMDB)
