SWEPT AWAY!

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For "Friday Movie Suggestion Night", we are taking in a foreign film by Lina Wertmuller called "Swept Away" (not to be confused by Guy Ritchie's 2002 film of the same title with Madonna). The plot of this film revolves around an insensitive, if not brutal woman who probably hasn't stopped to think of the plight of those who suffer around her abuse for more than five minutes. This movie was filmed just ahead of the Glasnost period in Europe, and centers on two principal characters: a spoiled woman of riches (but no real power without her rich husband) together with a servant who has spent an eternity under her degrading iron-fisted rule. While taking out a private boat for a trip in the Meditteranean with the servant serving as the ship crewman, a violent storm strands the two on a deserted island. The worker physically and mentally brutalizes the woman in retribution for years of her abusive treatment. Incidentally, this movie was shown on my Southwest college campus ("Movie Night" was free and a convenient fall-back when one was dateless)! Lina Wertmuller’s film--by it's full name is entitled, "SWEPT AWAY BY AN UNUSUAL DESTINY IN THE BLUE SEA OF AUGUST". Gennarino is the working class hero and crewman on the yacht and Rafella—is the spoiled woman of leisure. Gradually, the woman begins to understand what it feels like to be looked down upon and considered a second-class human being for the first time in her life. But will love be enough to change her? Watch and see. Here's The Cast: Gennarino: Giancarlo Giannini; Raffaella: Mariangela Melato; Written and Directed by: Lina Wertmuller; and Produced by: Romano Cardarelli. Photographed by Giulio Battiferri, Giuseppe Fornari and Stefano Ricciotti; Music by Piero Piccioni (with a motif adapted from Henry Purcell). This is a bit of a different foray for us, but then, Variety and Fun is the point of FMSN! Oh, before I forget, this film was shot in Italy so be advised of the English subtitles--which adds an interesting flavor to the film. This is definitely a good "curl up on the couch" movie with hot tea and and blanket for those braving the harsh, cold temps in the MId-West and Northeast!

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Enjoy!