When I hear a film has been banned somewhere of note (UK) I tend to want to see what is deemed unsuitable for adults to decide whether they can watch it (See my post on "Up"). The film was banned in the UK until '81 and was only seen uncut in 2003.

Some of the details listed for this film here are incorrect (at the time I'm writing this). It came out in '76 not '69 and is not a comedy... at all. Well... hmmm... albeit very dark.

I'm not going to discuss the film in terms of story, the synopsis covers it, I'll simply aim to pitch the tone.

Barbet Schroeder is a filmmaker whos work both in Euro and US cinema is well worth the look. Noteable US work includes "Barfly" (Mickey Rourke) "Single White Female" (Bridget Fonda/Jennifer Jason Leigh) and "Reversal of Fortune" (Jeremy Irons).

So. Maîtresse. Worth watching? Yes. It's an uncompromising, unconvential love story as only the Europeans could tell it.

Is it hard to watch? For some, definetly. I only had a moment that made me take a deep breath and that was a scene at the end which was the counterpoint and entirely it's purpose.


***For Adults Only** ( is that better Fatalmuzza ;) )
So, here's really the deciding factors for potential viewers. Though not overly prominent, the graphic S&M Dungeon scenes are real. The few "enthusiasts" recieve a variety of treats including whipping, stretching, piercing and one guy has his penis nailed to a board in six places. For the uneasy scene at the end you wouldn't want to be a card carrying member of PETA.

Having said all that was it worth it? For me, yes. It was an interesting, well told and acted story. It's just a little off kilter for most.

MajorMercyFlush random side note: Schroeder made a fantastic documentary called "Koko, le gorille qui parle (Koko, the talking gorilla)", a very candid and unbias look at the controversial work of Dr Jenny Patterson teaching Koko standardised sign language. The film is confronting as the lines of friend and property, science and self, success and failure blur and exactly where are the boundaries of "human" rights violations.

Thanks for playing.