1986's "The Venetian Woman" is one of Bolognini's best known efforts but is not as satisfying nor as compelling as was his 1976 "The Inheritance" for which Dominque Sanda won the Best Actress award at Cannes. That film showed a woman, what "The Venetian Woman" primarily tries to say, out-besting men, which it does with two women on this "boy's" (Jason Connery) one night in Venice. This is something Bolognini has been somewhat preoccupied with as most of his most well-known films have this theme ("Arabella" with Virna Lisi and "Madamigella di Maupin" with Catherine Spaak). In fact, in "The Venetian Woman" he has one of his "ladies" dress up, almost unheard of then in 15th century Venice, like a man, the basic overall plot of "Madamigella di Maupin." Laura Antonelli and Monica Guerritore play the ladies, there are a lot of beautiful images in imitation of Renaissance paintings and by 1986 standards rather tame eroticism. The script is by Massimo Franciosa and Bolognini with a good score by Ennio Morricone with beautiful cinematography by Beppe Lanci and good costuming by Aldo Buti. It is hard to gauge Connery's performance as his voice is dubbed in by someone else, and he does not look particularly expressive, although Antonelli and Guerritore give more accomplished performances. One almost wishes she were caught dressed as a man as little happens except as an excuse for the love-making. And just the same, it is very impressive and well-worth the time spent on it, but not likely to be a lasting representative of Bolognini's work in the mainstream.
Review of The Venetian Woman
