This movie is an intriguing watch. It made a sensation when it was released, receiving an X than NC-17 rating, and it's not something to watch with the fam though it's not as hardcore as a modern X movie. Marlon Brando is great in it as is Maria Schneider as the female lead. It's 2 people who meet for anonymous sex after Brando's character's wife commits suicide and he spirals out of control. If you can't stand subtitles than you won't like this, you're also an idiot. There's just as much psychology going on as there is sex and it definitely makes you think while you're watching it. As with all foreign movies and older movies you have to watch them with a certain level of forgiveness as the standards and cultural expectations of the characters you're watching are different than you'd be used to; this is especially true of a lot of the older Criterion Collection movies where sex/gender issues are dealt with. There's a handful of great scenes and some disturbing ones, but where this excels is in something many modern movies can't handle: slowing down and using pauses. If this was redone today it'd be such overdone/shock value/ fast paced BS that it'd be a failure. Even as outlandish some of the movie is, it still has an air realism that is a credit to the director and actors. Only real downsides are the music is weak and the visuals are soft and 70's. All in all it will get you emotionally involved and stands as a good real film. (.87)

- J Paige