The Couples
Three episodes. Episode 1 - The Refrigerator (Monicelli). A married couple of two poor emigrant workers spend almost all their money to buy a refrigerator (a must in the '70s). The purchase is too expensive for their family balance sheet. To earn some money they decide to go for prostitution. The wife is not so unhappy to the perspective. Episode 2 - The Room (Sordi). To celebrate ten years of marriage a couple decides to spend a quick holiday in top luxury hotels in Sardinia. But the fashion luxury VIP world is too hard to enter; they soon will end in prison. Episode 3 - The Lion (De Sica). Two adulterous, Antonio and Giulia, are blocked by a lion, staying on the exit in the place they met. They both have to come back home, but couldn't move because of the lion’s presence. The critical situation soon drives them to their limit, revealing their real essence.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young couple, disillusioned with their suburban lives, seeks excitement and meaning through an affair with another couple. What begins as a thrilling exploration of infidelity and unconventional relationships soon spirals into a dangerous game of manipulation and betrayal, testing the boundaries of trust and sanity.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, 'The Couples' garnered mixed reviews, with some critics praising its daring exploration of marital dissatisfaction and sexual liberation, while others found its narrative convoluted and its characters unsympathetic. Over time, it has gained a cult following for its provocative themes and its snapshot of changing social mores in the early 1970s.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its bold thematic material exploring infidelity and societal norms.
- Criticized for a meandering plot and underdeveloped characters.
- Noted as a product of its time, reflecting changing sexual attitudes.
Google audience: Information not available.
Fun Fact
The film was independently produced and gained limited distribution, contributing to its status as a lesser-known, yet thematically significant, independent film of the era.
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