The Key [1984] [1985]

The remaining cast is quite good but the award must go to the actress and the story, wrote by a japanese author. It is quite more joyful then "Senso 45", of the same director.


One of the few Brass films not ruined by being dubbed into English.   September 21, 2008
In fact this is the only film of Tinto Brass that I have been able to obtain with English subtitles, leaving the original soundtrack intact. All the others I have seen were completely ruined, as usual, by the clumsy dubbing by the same old dubbing studio and the same old actors. They have also ruined hundreds of other films and TV series and should have been put out of business decades ago.

The well known English actor Frank Finlay in the main male part appears with his own voice.

Although there is, strictly speaking, really no single 'great erotic scene' in the film, there are a great many very well handled 'candid' erotic scenes generously distributed throughout the entire film and the cumulative effect is truly joyous. This film shares the same life-affirming, earthy life-force that is found in some other Italian films such as those of Fellini.

What do I mean by 'candid': I mean 'real' and honest, not idealised as in Hollywood love scenes; I mean an almost detatched documentary style not avoiding the clumsyness and awkwardness found in real life; I mean distanced and yet intimate at the same time; I mean that such scenes can be occasionally a little sordid or sometimes a little absurd. That's the sort of thing I mean - and it's all too rare while still retaining an erotic quality and not alienating the viewer in the sense of vitiating any sexual response.
A very fine example of this which is fully satisfying as an erotic poem is the scene on the plane early in the first 'Emmanuelle' film. I have reviewed this on Amazon too.
Another example is the kitchen scene in 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', which I have also reviewed.
Any more examples please?


Don't buy this DVD   August 17, 2003
 71 out of 76 found this review helpful

Although this is a good movie for any Brass fans out there, this DVD is not the way to see it. Two reasons:

1. Although it is stated to be the English version almost 30% of the scenes are in Italian and not subtitled, therefore incomprehensible. This means you can follow the erotic main plotline, but you completely miss the political subplot unless you understand Italian.
2. The featured interview with Brass has him discussing a different movie he made (Cheeky, if I'm not mistaken) and at first leaves you in doubt what he is talking about.

I don't recommend this DVD and I suggest buying a region 1 version of this movie.