P.O.BOX
TINTO BRASS
(Nouveaux
Pictures DVD Region 2)
P.O.
Box Tinto Brass is a lightweight collection of erotic
vignettes, each of which purports to explore a different female
sexual fantasy. Or so the film would have us believe because
each section supposedly emerged from letters Tinto Brass has
received from his female fans, who according to the film, find
the randy old director a "likeable and understanding person".
Hmmm. The resulting movie is playful in tone, with parables
intended to titillate and amuse, rather than provide enlightenment.
Nothing wrong with this easy going approach, it's just that
we have come to expect more from Brass, the auteur behind Salon
Kitty, Caligula, The
Key, Miranda and The
Voyeur.
Sure, PO Box contains all the director's trademark
iconography: gorgeous actresses (with just the right amount
of flesh, in all the right places), lingerie to-die-for, pleasingly
elliptical lineation, myriad mirror images, prominently placed
phallic shapes, women squatting to take a "pee pee"
and the like. Moreover, it's shot with the same attention to
set design, lighting and camerawork that we've come to expect
from the Maestro (as he's known in Italia). However, despite
the seductive imagery, the short story format never allows the
viewer to become properly involved with the characters and so
he/she is unduly distanced from the eight feverish fantasies
on show.
So,
what do the lust-filled letters offer by way of subject matter?
The opening episode focuses on the dual thrills of voyeurism
and exhibitionism in a pleasing seaside sexcapade. The second
concerns a jealous husband and his wife, a secret 'belle de
jour', with sly references to Bunuel's classic Sixties film.
The third episode concerns a "naughty teasing exhibitionist"
who pulls down her panties at an ancient Roman amphitheatre,
revealing - and brushing - her femininity before a baffled but
highly curious Japanese tourist. It's simple, yet effortlessly
effective.
Next,
Brass receives a selection of 'reader's wife' photos, accompanied
by some amateur camcorder coitus which climaxes with some impromptu
wife-swapping in the woods. Back to nature, indeed. The weakest
episode, chronicling a limp tale of a dirty telephone call,
is next. The following tale shows a randy husband persuading
his spouse to accompany him to a swinger's club. Initially repulsed
by the idea, she is soon willingly indulging her body and senses
like "a sow". It's a celebration of unbridled lust, which aims
to show that, given the opportunity for copious cocks or cunts,
both men and women are willing to pig out and indulge as much
as they can.
The
penultimate story shows a "lousy son-of-a-bitch" drunken
gambler getting the tables turned on him by his long-suffering
wife. After she returns home later one night, giddy and giggling
from too much booze, she tantalisingly wobbles about on their
bidet. Her hubbie soon realises what a twat he has been, aware
of his own inadequacy in face of his wife's provocative position.
The
final glorious segment involves Brass' sexy, spectacle wearing
secretary and evolves into a fully fledged fun-tasy set in a
fetishistic shoe emporium-cum-circus with the erubescent auteur
taking centre stage. This show stopping sequence allows the
dirty old director to over indulge his ribald imagery to excess
and aficionados will love the brazen celebration of the female
form, plus some delectable shoes, boots and lingerie. A touch
of surrealism even intervenes...
Only
the very jaded or cynical viewer will find nothing to enjoy
in the knowingly salacious scenarios. Flimsy in content it may
be, PO Box is nevertheless definitely preferable
to most hardcore productions. While he was clearly treading
water somewhat with this collection of teasing tush, at least
Signor Brass is still actively indulging his art and his passion
for the full-some female form whilst past masters of male orientated
erotica, such as Russ Meyer, are content to sit on their back
catalogues. Thankfully, Brass' next opus, Monella
(aka Frivolous Lola) was an earthy return to
form. Oh, and Tinto apparently finds women's armpit hair "sublime".
What better recommendation can a fan of Euro erotica offer?
ADRIAN
SMITH
BUY
IT NOW
