Oct. 19, 1983|Italy|110 Min.|R
Genre: Adult;Drama;Romance
Description: After two decades of marriage, retired art teacher Nino Rolfe struggles to connect with his beautiful but emotionally reserved wife, Teresa. Frustrated, he begins documenting his feelings in a private diary, which he leaves in his desk, giving her the key to discover it. One evening, after Teresa faints at a party, Nino undresses her while their daughter’s fiancé, Laszlo, administers an injection. During this moment, Laszlo secretly touches Teresa, sparking an intense desire for her.
Nino starts secretly photographing Teresa while she sleeps, but the only person he trusts to develop the photos is Laszlo, who begins an affair with Teresa. Despite her awareness of the situation, their daughter Lisa remains complicit by staying engaged to Laszlo. Meanwhile, Teresa starts her own diary, intentionally leaving it for Nino to find. This tangled web of relationships, documented in diaries and photographs, reaches its climax when Teresa, awakened by her passionate encounters with Laszlo, finally feels capable of satisfying Nino. However, the experience leads to his stroke, and the story concludes with his funeral on the day Italy enters World War II.
“The Key” (Italian: *La chiave*), directed by Tinto Brass, is an Italian erotic drama set in Venice during the early months of 1940 under the fascist regime. The film explores themes of sexual liberation and betrayal, focusing on a woman in her forties who experiences a delayed awakening through her relationship with her daughter’s fiancé, ultimately enabling her to fulfill her husband’s desires. Known for its explicit scenes and controversial nudity, the film caused a scandal but achieved notable commercial success. It features Stefania Sandrelli, whose performance added to its provocative reputation.
Cast director: Tinto Brass
Cast actor: Stefania Sandrelli, Frank Finlay, Franco Branciaroli, Barbara Cupisti, Maria Grazia Bon, Gino Cavalieri, Piero Bortoluzzi, Irma Veithen, Milly Corinaldi, Giovanni Michelagnoli
Original name: La chiave