Search - Swept Away... By an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 11/19/1997 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: Italian Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Fox Lorber Members Wishing: 7 Genres: Drama, Comedy of Manners, Romantic Drama, Political Satire See Also: Swept Away

The Mediterranean sea is the backdrop for this social drama from director Lina Wertmuller. While vacationing on a yacht, the wealthy capitalist Raffaella (Mariangela Melato) shouts out orders in between spouting off political opinions amongst her friends. She is especially confrontational to the deck hand and servant Gennarino (frequent Wertmuller leading man Giancarlo Giannini), by demanding that he appear more presentable. Gennarino grows increasingly frustrated by her demands and develops contempt for her independence. When it is nearing dark, Raffaella has Gennarino take her out in the dinghy for a swim. The two find themselves stranded after the motor seizes up and a current sends them drifting out to sea. Eventually finding land, they end up on an uninhabited island and their small boat deflates. Removed from the trappings of society, Gennarino and Rafaella engage in a passionate power struggle fueled by sexual tension and basic survival. Their desperation develops into a strange and cruel love affair that determines whether or not they want to be rescued. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Giancarlo Giannini - Gennarino
Mariangela Melato - Raffaella

Lina Wertmuller's polarizing art-house sensation Swept Away comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The Italian soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include production notes, and biographies of the cast and crew. This is a decent disc from Wellspring that will probably be of interest to Wertmuller fans as well as anyone who actually saw the universally reviled remake with Madonna. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide