Frivolous Lola (1998)

One aspect of Brass' dirty fancies is that they're meant as colossal, lively, bizarre fun. But that's not just Brass—of course; that's a whole slice of the Italian genre cinema—the Italian dirty flicks ….Brass is only (and this, symbolically—not even chronologically) the torchbearer of this movement.Monella (1998) is indeed quite a movie; and, erotically, it was Serena Grandi's swansong. Of course, there are also Anna Ammirati, Edith Rozanyai, Laura Trotter, Francesca Nunzi, Susanna Martinková—but, with MONELLA, Mrs. Grandi, at 40 yrs., left the movies. For me at least, Serena is the true, gorgeous, awesome star of MONELLA. At 40, she had what to show; she was older than Mrs. Sandrelli in LA CHIAVE—and what a body! MONELLA is the Brassian sex—feast par excellence. The master conceived his flick as a sex—parade, back to the grimly serene, funny naturalism of MIRANDA (or, less well handled, PAPRIKA).Mrs. Grandi wasn't as solicited by the directors as she should have been; regardless, she is , together with Sandrelli, Koll, Dellera, Caprioglio, Miti, one of the core actresses of the erotica. These girls' movies are indeed textbooks.

This was only my 3rd Brass after CALIGULA (1979) - which I watched in London - and DEADLY SWEET (1967; his best film by far, so far) - viewed during the Italian B-movie retrospective at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.Well, frivolous is right as nothing much happens during the course of the film; at least, though, it's lighthearted - unlike, say, Bigas Luna's BAMBOLA (1996; see review above) - even if in a vulgar way and, given the explicit nature of its copious nudity, occasionally erotic. Still, the leading performance by non-professional (and perennially giggly) Anna Ammirati - whom Brass reportedly discovered, literally, by way of a car accident! - is annoyingly one-dimensional. Like BAMBOLA, the leading lady's mother is played by a well-known actress (i.e. known more for her physical attributes than her acting talent), Serena Grandi - who had earlier starred in Brass' MIRANDA (1985). A surprising cast member is Patrick Mower as Grandi's suave but lewd lover (who naturally has his eyes on her daughter too); I was only familiar with him from two good British horror flicks - THE DEVIL RIDES OUT (1968) and CRY OF THE BANSHEE (1970) - and I wonder how he came to be involved with smut such as this (and, moreover, in Italy)!One of the most notable (but not necessarily noteworthy) elements in the film is the soft-focus cinematography; it's practically shot like that all the way through, which rather kills its intended effectiveness! Brass himself appears as a bandleader at the beginning and end of the movie, the latter during the interminable wedding scene (which rather reminded me of the similar conclusion to Federico Fellini's AMARCORD [1973], also a film with the emphasis on sex and vulgarity but undeniably superior!).

The older Brass become, the easier its films. It seems, as if it has the dark sides of the life completely beside, which it so urgently produced still with CALIGULA and SALON KITTY. Since SNACKBAR BUDAPEST he praises himself besides, completely on a connection of sexuality and brutality was to do without. MONELLA used up itself and leaves completely the summer-resorts comedy anyhow us curious view sharing at the life-merry plots, which the girl leads around its prudent engaged one. As in MIRANDA Brass catches here the Italian land life affectionately and looks again and again for original and bizarre perspectives, in order to regard its heroine in flagrant. Its occasional mix between 70's Softporno and contemporary hard core's what rends the Brass style fantastic, and it is amazing that its films beside the tide of purely porn productions can maintain ground still. But Brass goes around the production from eroticism, not around flesh banality. In addition he thinks out the most amazing situations. If the master should throw the towel, will somewhat be missing: Nobody can produce so loosely and at the same time as sensual as he can... And MONELLA is reliably one of the most beautiful examples to appreciate this style.

This was one of the worst films I've ever seen. It's stupid, idiotic, insipid, etc. I can't think of all of the words appropriate for this "erotic comedy at its best." The movie was ridiculous! The actors are wooden; the dialogue is ingratiating; and the dubbing is, well, dubbing. In other words this movie is a car accident caught on film.