It is
impossible to exaggerate the significance of this film to the Euro exploitation
movement of the '70s. Perhaps [as Italian critic Marco Maculotti wrote]
"There would have been no BLACK
EMANUELLE or even CANNIBAL
HOLOCAUST without this movie." Director Ugo Liberatore shot
this film in Bora Bora and the Leeward Islands [French Polynesia] shortly
after finding success with SEX
OF THE ANGELS the previous year. The "EXOTIC | EROTIC"
genre begins here, an Italian trend that grew throughout the seventies
(BLACK
PEACOCK, SNAKE
GOD, AMORE
LIBERO , et al) into Laura Gemser's BLACK
EMANUELLE films. These were peculiar 'black exploitation' movies
made primarily for white audiences, concentrating on a lifestyle clash
between the Western/European and the Exotic [brown people] cultures, especially
with regards to love and sex. Often - as with this film - the conflict
becomes a distinction of free love or sexual possession.
The story
opens as Roberto (Corrado Pani) arrives in Bora Bora/Tahiti to reunite
with his wayward wife, Marita (Haydée Palitoff). He soon discovers
she's no longer at the hotel. Rather, she has met and gone to live with
the indigenous Manì (Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia). Those two are now
involved in a love/sexual relationship. Roberto tries to understand the
reason for his wife's choice by getting involved with his own brown mate,
Tehina (Rosine Copie). Tensions continue to mount until a final interracial
clash.
Ugo Liberatore
was a successful scriptwriter from his early projects (MILL
OF THE STONE WOMEN, 1960), through an impressive list of peplums
(including 300 Spartans, 1962) and Spaghetti Westerns (HELLBENDERS,
1967). He retired from the business in after writing a made-for-TV movie,
Morte a Contratto [Contract for Murder] in 1993 (at age
66). His debut film, the aforementionedSEX
OF THE ANGELS, was was followed by eight more including the acclaimed
horror film DAMNED
IN VENICE a decade later. Notices of his death circulated in 2011
but, as of this writing, it has not been confirmed.
An
Italian film, in English language; widescreen format, 90 minutes,
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT.
Extras include original trailer plus the opening 15 minutes of the Italian
print.
Nudity/Strong
Sexual Situations/Violence
Intended For Mature Audiences
