Private Vices, Public Virtues

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Not much happens in this movie. They dance, very very much, faster dances, slower dances, very lascivious, very anemic, as if all the characters are in an endless trance. They ride, horses, but especially people, yes, they have sex almost non-stop, the whole film is a continuous orgy, even when they dance, and when they drink champagne with some aphrodisiac substances. The subject of the movie? The nakedness! Or, better said, the emptiness! The men show what they have, the women what they don't, plenty of pubic hair fills the screen from start to finish. You will see Laura Betti, known from serious roles in Italian political films, here old and ugly, in an embarrassing scene, masturbating the main character, Rudolf played by Lajos Balázsovits. In another scene you will see her almost kissing prince Rudolph *. Actually, the * of Lajos Balázsovits is the principal subject of the film, you will see that * all the film. If you resist to watch it all. In terms of style, genre and atmosphere, the film resembles "Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom" by Pier Paolo Pasolini, "Immoral Tales" by Walerian Borowczyk and "Caligula" by Tinto Brass. We can't speak of acting performances, everything is like a bad filmed amateur theater play.

source: Private Vices, Public Virtues

Vizi privati, pubbliche virtù

This god arwful film played on the Playboy channel and I don't know why for it's terrible to watch. The film has a woman with a * (this film must have gotten a "X" rating in 1975), a male law officer getting raped by two guys, and other crazy stuff. Obnoxious and boring at the same time as two idiot sing "baba Blacksheep". If this film called erotic in Playboy Channel's programing director, then no wonder some bigshot on the channel told them to stop playing old films and make original films from now on.

I can't forget such an graceful and sad movie. It's as beautiful as moving folk dancing songs. Real masterpiece! Slow path, poetic, erotic and hard to understand completely unless we are well-known about history of that event and already get used to art flims. You won't really satisfied and might feel bored if you are finding a sexual * film. It should not be shown on Playboy channel. What a shame! I feel sorry for that great Central European director.

This is a brilliant, phantasmagorical film which offers a good start for the discussion of how to mix sexuality and innocence. Lots of nudity makes it pleasant on the eye; but it's also got an interesting twist on an intriguing piece of historical mystery. Not much seen since the 70s (when I saw it); but due a revival.

This is filmed beautifully by Miklos Jansko ,who is always politically astute, as well as poetically pleasing. The film depicts an anarchistic 'revolution of everyday life' which contrasts with Marxist Lenisist militarist seizure of power. His poetic portrait is similari to much of Pier Pailo Pasolini's work but is less pessimistic.Like Derek Jarman's 'Jubilee ' 1977 , it shows anarchistic youth rebellion against prevailing power structures.Pasolini's 'Salo ' 1975 shows even more depressingly power reproducing itself due to a lack of an alternative ideology.Whilst fascists secretly admire their masters; anarchists recognize none. Other reviewers explain the historical political context better than I would have. I saw this film at Essex University in 1977 and have never had the chance to see it since.Where could I see this again?

Some speculate Prince Rudolph of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, knew that he would be thwarted from properly ruling his vast empire. And that he would not be allowed to marry his mistress. So out of depression & frustration with his family & ministers, he offed himself & his girl. Jansco's film suggests that he was so debauched & that his girl was hermaprodite, that the Austrian police were ordered to kill him Who knows.? But Jansco found a lush villa & grounds & littered it w/ beautiful naked women and men in orgiastic mode. Easy on the eyes. for sure..

Lots of information here in other reviews about the films historical context and ambitions, and also the directors other work and background. For me this film is from a time when film makers were not tied to mast of narrative, long lingering shots abound, with beautiful graceful composition , and the camera holding on little moments of reverie. The nudity is irreverent and celebratory , again capturing candid moments, and as one reviewer stated an almost dream like atmosphere is achieved. Also the use of diagetic and non-diagetic sound is playfully used and intertwined, with musicians playing the soundtrack itself on screen. A wonderful example of European cinema from a lost time.