SUNDAY WOMAN
Italy, 1975, 100 minutes, Colour.
Marcello Mastroianni, Jacqueline Bissett, Jean-Louis? Trintignant.
Directed by Luigi Comencini.
Sunday Woman is an interesting and entertaining murder mystery, Italian style. Directed by Luigi Commencini, probably better noted for his comedies, the film has zest and pace. Marcello Mastroianni is effective as the police inspector, though he does not have to exert himself too much. Jean Louis Trintignant has a better role as a wealthy homosexual. Jacqueline Bisset is the leading lady - she settles down to the Italian style, though it is somewhat disconcerting to see her gesticulating so vigorously in the early sequences of the film.
The setting is Turin, there is eventually some social comment behind the unravelling of the murder mystery.
1. Interesting mystery? Characters? Situations?
2. Turin settings, the attractiveness of the city, the lifestyle of the wealthy? The effects for the murder sequences, the flashbacks? Ennio Morricone's musical score?
3. The title and the focus? Who was the Sunday Woman?
4. The focus on Inspector Santamaria, his assistant? Personal background, in the force, investigating the murder, the interviews with Massimo and Anna Carla? Pursuing Lello? Investigating the background of Garrone? Anna Carla's growing involvement? Her games, clues? The intervention of Senora Tarbusso, the raid on the brothel? The build-up of the investigations, the market sequence, the discovery of the truth and the confrontation with Senora Tarbusso? The finale with Anna Carla? Sketch of the police inspector?
5. The opening and the focus on Anna Carla, her relationship with her husband, the letter about Garrone? The servants and their speculations, reading her letter, going to the police? Her relationship with her husband and his infidelity? Her snobbery about Garrone, pronunciations etc. and taking part in Massimo’s games?. Friendship with Massimo, ringing him, getting him involved? Meeting the inspector, the meals, the discussions, phone calls, clues? Her relationship with her husband, suspecting him? The visit to the market, the finale? Her callous and amoral attitude towards the inspector at the end?
6. Massimo and his involvement, relationship with Anna Carla, his relationship with Lello, the influence of his mother? The emotional involvement with Lello, love, fights? The investigation, Garrone, the discussions with the inspector? The fight with Lello and his leaving? Alibis? The discussions about the raid, the visit to the market, the truth?
7. Lello and his relationship with Massimo, highly emotional, the sequences between them? His wanting to help Massimo, going to the Council, his investigations, to the sculptors? The truth and the inspector? His discovering the truth, the arrest, the interrogations? His death?
8. Garrone and the collage at the opening of his character, unsympathetic, his death? Architecture. cemeteries, his partner, sex, blackmail?
9. The sculptors and their instruments, their attitude towards the inspector and Anna Carla? Lello? Their involvement with Garrone?
10. Senora Tarbusso - and her story seeming an intrusion on the main plot? The hairdressers and the comments? Her sister? Her righteousness and getting the police to raid the brothel? Peace? The irony of her attitude towards Garrone and the blackmail, her vicious killing of him? Considering him a pig? Considering Lello a queer? Her not feeling guilty? Was her identity as the murderer expected?
11. Social comment, Italian situations? Human nature? Ingredients for a murder mystery?
