Maîtresse (1976, France)

An interesting French art film, based on a woman who earns her living by giving fetish domination sessions to paying clients. The bondage and sado-masochism is pretty well portrayed, and I can't imagine this film getting a UK certificate if it had not had the aura of the continental about it. I believe it has never been on general release in the UK.

The "Mistress" is Ariane, played deliciously by Bulle Ogier. Gérard Depardieu plays Olivier, a rural horse-abattoir worker who comes to Paris. A chum takes him round trying to sell books door-to-door, and by accident they get into a flat that is set up for the bondage activities; Olivier has never seen this kind of thing, but Ariane takes a liking to him and they become lovers. The whole thing is very tastefully done, and it's an entertaining film, but don't watch this with your Great Aunt Jemima unless you are quite certain she is broad minded.

Most of the "action" is in the bdsm area, but a couple of clients are in enforced cross-dressing mode. As you might expect, though, they don't have speaking parts.

HF April 2007

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