La mujer del domingo

Books are usually better than movies from books, one may say it's a universal truth. And Fruttero&Lucentini's novel is better indeed in this case, read it for proof. But - surprise, surprise! - no bad movie at all: a bunch of excellent actors and actresses, all at ease in their roles (especially Mrs. Lina Volonghi, a great actress whose kind Italy should regret) and the feeling they are all having fun while acting (see the hilarious scene with Mastroianni among a group of prostitutes in the police station). Just good for one of those boring Sunday afternoons in winter.

A hidden gem of a comedy, The Sunday Woman is not what you think it is. A delightful cast of characters where everyone is innocent and guilty of something, the movie is full of hidden comedic moments with its unique storytelling and subtle jabs from each of its characters. The movie wins you over with several situations that do not attempt to be funny, but makes you laugh. Marcello Mastroianni leads an interesting cast of characters alongside a drop-dead gorgeous Jacqueline Bisset who entertains her audience for being both smart and sexy. Very key to detail, this movie is a great example of why you need to watch movies twice. The second time around, you will notice a lot of detail on what is happening with all the suspects.

Marcello's carefully folded pants next to his bed towards the end of the movie speaks volume to his character along with his unique personality as the Commissioner. Each character brings a theme to the story that needs to be dissected. It's this richness that makes this movie a winner.

Yes, the story is fun but the cast of characters is even better.

The story is taken from the Fruttero & Lucentini's book of the same title. Mysterious murders take place in Turin, Italy; victims are always people from the upper class. The movie is not a masterpiece. The solution of the cases is not well explained, the director goes too fast in showing us who the guilty is. The movie lacks some dramatical moments. Nevertheless, "La donna della domenica" is still an enjoyable movie. First, the cast is excellent: Marcello Mastroianni is very charming in the role of the elegant policeman Santamaria; Jacqueline Bisset too is delightful in the part of the snobbish lady; also Jean-Louis Trintignant works very well. Other Italian actors (with a long experience in the theatre and at the movies) complete the cast, for example Claudio Gora and Lina Volonghi. Luigi Comencini, one the inventors of the Italian comedy, directs this 1975 thriller with a lot of humor. And, as usual, the music of Ennio Morricone is fantastic (actually that's one of the highlights of the film).

Mr. Garrone , an old architect and skirt chaser has been killed in his apartment: somebody hit him with a stone phallus. The commissioner Salvatore Santamaria, who comes from Rome , is in charge of this investigation. His superior tells him to be very carefull with the high society of Turin. The commissioner will meet a wealthy businessman ,Massimo Campi and Anna Carla Dosio, a rich and bored woman.

The description of this high society which is complaining about the criminality, trying to speak in English , speaking about their holidays and sending their children to Switzerland for their education is quite fine and maybe more interesting that the investigation itself.

I enjoyed the performances of Marcello Mastrioanni, Jean-Louis Trintignant , Aldo Reggiani, Jacqueline Bisset and Claudio Gora.

"La donna della domenica" is an outstanding film, but one that is unlikely to be fully appreciated by non-Italians, most of whom might see it as a whodunnit of sorts. Its strength lies, instead, not just with its excellent cast, but also with the caustic way in which it describes Turin's high society: full of characters that, behind their apparent stylishness and elegance, betray a penchant for hypocrisy and an inability to look further than the conventional way in which they live.

It looks more like a comedy, and a well-written, witty one at that.