Varietés
Varietés

Movie spotlight

Varietés

1971
Movie
99 min
Spanish

Spain 1930s. A troupe of performers travel from city to city entertaining audiences and earning a living. The cast includes a magician, a ventriloquist, muscle men, dancers, singers and a full orchestra. The star of the show is Carmen Soler (Trini Alonso) a celebrated singer, now way past her prime, who refuses to retire gracefully and defends her stardom ruthlessly. On her shadow lives and works Ana Marques (Sara Montiel) a younger singer who dreams of the big time and patiently waits for her break.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Director: Jean-François DavyGenres: Comedy, Erotic

Plot Summary

Set in Paris, the film follows a young woman who seeks adventure and sexual discovery through various encounters. It explores themes of liberation and the burgeoning sexual revolution of the era. The narrative weaves together a series of episodes showcasing different relationships and experiences.

Critical Reception

Varietés is a film that reflects the permissive attitudes towards sexuality in the early 1970s. It received modest attention upon its release, primarily for its erotic content and its cast, including a young Sylvia Kristel. Critical reception was mixed, with some noting its frank portrayal of sexuality while others found it to be lacking in substance.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film is noted for its explicit sexual content for its time.

  • Features a notable early performance by Sylvia Kristel, before her Emmanuelle fame.

  • Seen as a product of the era's changing sexual mores.

Google audience: Audience reception for Varietés is scarce due to its niche nature and age. What is available suggests viewers acknowledge its historical context regarding sexual expression in cinema.

Fun Fact

This film was one of Sylvia Kristel's earliest roles, a year before she became an international star with 'Emmanuelle'.

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