Monella - A Travessa

i saw a trailer for monella on the cult epics DVD Bettie page dark angel and it made me watch the actual movie.the star;Anna Ammirati is so beautiful sexy and mischievous as Lola.you will love this Italian made comedy directed by the great tinto bass.its a very adult movie that does'nt hold back.its not a porno movie but a sexy comedy about a virginal bride to be who wants her fiancé to make love to her.i first saw a Korean cut of the movie which is censored and dubbed into English,then later the Italian uncensored version with Italian language that was great.i really have to say Anna Ammirati is so beautiful and sexy she should do more movies.she will give Angelina Jolie and Megan fox a run for their money.i only seen one Tinto Bass movie and really did'nt like it,it was the infamous Caligula,which was so different from monella.the beginning scenes of Lola(Anna)riding her bike are truly memorable.if you are a fan of Italian cinema like myself then you will enjoy monella.need i mention again beautiful sexy Anna Ammirati.amour monella.10 out of 10.a sexy movie,Anna also sings the song monella in the movie.shes multi talented.OK I'm done this movie rocks.

This was only my 3rd Brass after CALIGULA (1979) - which I watched in London - and DEADLY SWEET (1967; his best film by far, so far) - viewed during the Italian B-movie retrospective at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.

Well, frivolous is right as nothing much happens during the course of the film; at least, though, it's lighthearted - unlike, say, Bigas Luna's BAMBOLA (1996; see review above) - even if in a vulgar way and, given the explicit nature of its copious nudity, occasionally erotic. Still, the leading performance by non-professional (and perennially giggly) Anna Ammirati - whom Brass reportedly discovered, literally, by way of a car accident! - is annoyingly one-dimensional. Like BAMBOLA, the leading lady's mother is played by a well-known actress (i.e. known more for her physical attributes than her acting talent), Serena Grandi - who had earlier starred in Brass' MIRANDA (1985). A surprising cast member is Patrick Mower as Grandi's suave but lewd lover (who naturally has his eyes on her daughter too); I was only familiar with him from two good British horror flicks - THE DEVIL RIDES OUT (1968) and CRY OF THE BANSHEE (1970) - and I wonder how he came to be involved with smut such as this (and, moreover, in Italy)!

One of the most notable (but not necessarily noteworthy) elements in the film is the soft-focus cinematography; it's practically shot like that all the way through, which rather kills its intended effectiveness! Brass himself appears as a bandleader at the beginning and end of the movie, the latter during the interminable wedding scene (which rather reminded me of the similar conclusion to Federico Fellini's AMARCORD [1973], also a film with the emphasis on sex and vulgarity but undeniably superior!).

This was the first film I've ever seen by Brass, and honestly, it was quite disappointing. Instead of feeling empathy for the protagonist, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with her erratic behavior and constant need for male attention. If the roles had been reversed-if she were a man and the baker a woman-the plot would likely spark serious debate over its problematic implications.

And the dishonesty-Lola says so many lies! It felt excessive and boring, with what seemed like an hour and a half of screen time focused almost entirely on Lola's rear. While he is technically the lead, the film fixates on her in a way that adds little to the narrative. If you're considering watching it, know that it's essentially two hours of shallow, soft-core storytelling. Personally, I regret the time I spent on it and would suggest investing those two hours into something more meaningful.

Monella is wonderful erotic comedy about a couple getting married. The story takes place in northern Italy in the 1950´s. Lola and Masetto is about to get married. Masetto wants to keep Lola as a virgin until they are married. But Lola is impatient to remain in chastity until the wedding night. She wants to be sure that Masetto is a good lover, before she commits herself into marriage. She does everything to trick Masetto into breaking the moral tradition. Anna Ammirati is doing a wonderful interpretation of Lolas character. It´s easy to fall for her charm. The film is also aesthetical with the beautiful environment, the heat between the characters, and the camera light on Anna Ammiratis irresistible body.

Cute but not too exciting. I haven't seen any other Tinto films, but based on this one I probably wouldn't go out of my way to see any others. It was mildly interesting to watch but in the end rather unsatisfying. Just nothing to sink your teeth into as a film. The plot was weak and at times confusing and Lola just came across as a spoiled little girl (probably intentional). But there was nothing to make me understand why her "boyfriend" was even interested in her, other than her good looks. The camera work was interesting and creative and there are lots of great shots of Lola in various states of undress which is probably the only reason I kept watching it - hey, I'm a guy, what can I say? But, to be honest, its mostly like watching a TV sitcom - light entertainment to pass the time.