Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Verführung: Die grausame Frau" or "Seduction: The Cruel Woman" is a West German German-language film from 1985, so this one already had its 30th anniversary two years ago. The two writers and directors here are Elfi Mikesch and Monika Treut and I am almost sure that if males had made this film, then some self-proclaimed feminists would call it sexist or so, but I guess this way it is fine. Anyway, the movie runs for 1.5 hours roughly and stars Mechthild Großmann as the main character and this casting decision (as well as the one regarding Udo Kier) is one of the main reasons why I did not give this film an even lower rating. Großmann that many probably know from "Tatort" (Münster) recently is perfect for the part and honestly and her voice sounded back then already just like it sounds today as if she smokes 50 cigarettes each day. As for the story, it is all about sex, sadism and masochism, even if it is never really graphic and more about verbal expressions really. Nonetheless I fail to see an artistic side really in here, but people who like films like this more than I do in general or even those who have a connection to the SM scene may see this movie as something more special and accurate. I guess there must be a reason why this one is still relatively known today several decades later, at least here in Germany. Of course, it is not famous or anything, but it also has not disappeared into complete oblivion. The baity title may also have something to do with that. All in all, I guess you can see it as a compliment that there are many other (old) films out there dealing with similar subjects and that I really disliked those and did not hate this one here as much. But this does not mean I enjoyed the watch or that I would recommend it. Thumbs-down overall here. Watch something else instead as this movie may be cruel, but it will most likely not seduce you.
Meta Pomeiske
I like Mechthild Großmann a lot. THAT voice, you have to hear it to believe it. Incredible! I love her voice. I wanna listen to her all day long. That's the reason, I forced myself on this particular movie. Usually it wouldn't be my cup of tea.It's utterly weird, to say the least. It's stuffed with fetish (fashion). I guess it's meant artsy....I felt latent violence throughout the movie. But that's S and M for you.The only thing I really enjoyed was the "lesbian" spirit between the main character and ...her "girlfriends"? I am not sure. That was very hot for some reason. I guess it's hot because I see what snooty characters these women play nowadays....Total contrast.This movie is one of a kind. The setting is good old Germany. I was more interested in background houses than that story itself. But I am stupid. ;)
Fire-WalkWithMe
The only reason I tracked down this movie is because of Udo Kier... And I have to say, he's done some really really bizarre roles... Including this one...All the women in the movie look like men, or sound like them... So it's pretty funny. But the movies not funny, not really. Except the guy who wants Mistress to use him 'as a toilet' hahaha.The movie is bizarre.. it's haunting. The colors are.. I don't know, it just adds to the weirdness. The ending sort of left you hanging, but I did watch it again before I commented here, and I guess it ended at a nice place.Udo Kier. Any movie with Udo, I can't leave a bad comment... lol. He talks German all through the movie, which I like... he has the BEST voice in the world... He's mistreated in the movie by, Wanda, the Mistress who owns the 'GALLERY', and it's sad! He did good in his role, I guess, he never gave any expression, or anything...It's not the type of movie I'd watch at a party or anything, but it's definately not the worst I've ever seen...
Mikew3001
A very stylish German film about a Hamburg art gallery owner and S&M domina who is giving "performances" with her slaves and maids in front of a selling audience. Unfortunately her favorite slave is falling in love with her. This movie, directed by two women, is an interesting and inspiring study about fatal love, sex, dependence, seduction and sensibility.There are not many dialogues and much action involved, but many silent sequences and erotic moments that are standing on their own. The colors, settings and photography are lush and stimulating and sometimes appear like an MTV video clip setting of a 1980's Duran Duran, George Michael or Madonna pop song. There are also many literature influences involved. Based on the Leopold von Sacher-Masoch drama "Venus in Furs", there are also scenes or names taken from Marquis de Sade's "Justine" and "The 120 days of Sodom" and Octave Mirbeau's "The garden of delight".As the directors try to give different view points from the domina, her maid and two slaves, the story is a bit difficult to follow sometimes, and in some moments because of the lack of any tempo simply boring. But at least this movie could have been an important influence on Adrian Lyne's box selling hit "9 1/2 weeks" which was produced one year later.For the movie buffs amongst you: the dialogue coach of this production was Sandra Nettelbeck, later becoming a movie director ("Drei Sterne"). The stylish settings were produced by Xenia Katzenstein who was playing "Frau Sommer" in a well-know German TV coffee advert series in the seventies ("Jacobs Kroenung") - a rather conservative role model. Unbelievable but true.
AD
