Seven Beauties (1975-76*)

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards*:

Best Director: Lina Wertmüller
Best Actor: Giancarlo Giannini
Best Original Screenplay
Best Foreign Language Film - Italy 
(*nominated as a 1976 release)

Ever since I got very interested in the Academy Awards, I knew Lina Wertmüller was the first woman to get a Best Director nomination. She was almost an unknown in Hollywood and received this accolade for a foreign language film nonetheless. But as you can see, it took me decades to finally see Seven Beauties. Why did I wait so long? I had heard all kinds of things about the film and I'm not someone to always lean towards controversy.

And indeed, controversial it is, because it deliberately paints a very charming leading character, played by a handsome and charismatic actor, to then peel back the layers and reveal the disturbing nature of the character. It's not a film for everyone to enjoy and it would probably not get made today, considering the current sensibilities. Interesting to see how the screenplay and the film came from the mind of a woman. It's a brave film, disgusting and uncomfortable at times, but very well made, beautifully shot and edited. Giancarlo Giannini is superb, both on the outside and especially in his performance, capturing the superficial nature of the character, and the troubled mind that lies beneath.

I give it: 9/10

IMDB LINK