Seven Beauties

Drama | Italian with English subtitles | 115 minutes

Info

Pasqualino, a small-town gangster in Italy, kills and dismembers a pimp who forced Pasqualino’s sister into prostitution. Caught by the police he is sent to a psychiatric ward. He manages to get released by volunteering to join the Italian army during World War II. Frightened Italy is losing the war, he deserts. He’s quickly captured and sent to a German concentration camp. To survive, Pasqualino seduces the obese, unmerciful, female commandant. He succeeds. However, Pasqualino soon learns that having sex with the German commandant can result in some extremely brutal consequences.

Cast

Giancarlo Giannini (Pasqualino) / Shirley Stoler (Prison Camp Commandant)

Why Stream This Film?

Wertmüller paved the way being the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director in 1976. Alas, it took another 17 years before this could happen again when Jane Campion was nominated for The Piano.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 68%

Accolades

Academy Awards: Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film; Best Actor (Giancarlo Giannini); Best Director (Lina Wertmüller); Best Screenplay (Lina Wertmüller)
Directors Guild of America: Nominated, Best Director (Lina Wertmüller)
Golden Globes: Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film
New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Nominated, Best Film; Best Director (Lina Wertmüller); Best Screenplay (Lina Wertmüller)

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