When cinephiles hear the name , they immediately think of Caligula (1979) or his later “erotic-comic” masterpieces like The Key (1983) and Paprika (1991). They envision extreme close-ups of posterior anatomy, liberated women, and a baroque, almost carnivalesque celebration of hedonism.
(Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman who was committed to a mental asylum after being discarded by her lover, a local Count. She is granted a one-month experimental leave—the "vacation" of the title—to see if she can reintegrate into society.
, offers a hallucinatory and subversive look at the blurred lines between sanity and societal expectation. The Vacation (La Vacanza) – A Review Tinto Brass The Vacation -La Vacanza- - Tinto Brass 1971 -S...
The Vacation is profoundly a film of its time. The revolutionary fervor of the late 1960s had given way to the early 1970s’ hangover. What happens when all social rules have been questioned, but nothing new has been built?
: Brass uses fragmented editing, surrealist vignettes (like a "medieval fable" enacted mid-film), and a haunting folk-inspired soundtrack with lyrics allegedly written by actual mental institution inmates. Political Satire When cinephiles hear the name , they immediately
Despite winning a prestigious critics' prize, the film's polarizing nature led audience members to attempt to physically attack Brass after the premiere. This makes it a perfect case study for a "re-discovered" classic, as it remained largely unseen in the U.S. for four decades until its 2012 festival revival. Italian Cinema: "The Vacation" - cybermuse
The film’s English title, The Vacation , is a cruel joke. The Italian title, La Vacanza , suggests a break from work. But for the protagonists, there is no rest, only decay. The revolutionary fervor of the late 1960s had
The film is visually inventive, utilizing experimental editing and a vibrant, almost psychedelic color palette typical of early 70s European cinema. Political Edge: