The Sunday Woman

The Sunday Woman is a 1975 Italian thriller, directed by Luigi Comencini and adapted from the novel by the same name by Fruttero and Lucentini. Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Jacqueline Bisset, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, The Sunday Woman unfolds as a suspenseful melange of mystery, desire, and the search for truth.

The story revolves around the lives of three principal characters: Marcello Mastroianni as Commissioner Salvatore Santamaria, Jacqueline Bisset as Anna Carla Dosio, an affluent and powerful woman, and Jean-Louis Trintignant as Massimo Campi, a renowned architect. The narrative begins when an unknown decapitated corpse is found in Turin, the gloomy atmosphere serving as the perfect backdrop for the impending mystery. Commissioner Santamaria, a seasoned and able detective known for his unrelenting pursuit of the truth, is assigned to decipher the clues behind this perplexing crime.

The noir-like atmosphere is further exacerbated with the introduction of the enigmatic Anna Carla Dosio, a wealthy divorcee with an ability to bend men to her will. Jacqueline Bisset delivers a splendid performance, capturing the character's mix of impetuosity and charm with ease. The enigmatic connection between Bisset's character and the murder case forms the crux of the movie, leaving the audience on tenterhooks about her possible involvement in the crime.

Jean-Louis Trintignant, as Massimo Campi, a renowned but reclusive architect and potential lover of Anna Carla, gives a balanced and controlled performance. His character is elegantly ambivalent - at once presenting a pillar of society facade while harboring potentially sinister secrets. This sense of duplicity furthers the movie's suspense and adds to its overall mystique.

Marcello Mastroianni, as Commissioner Santamaria, is tasked with unraveling the murder. His character is presented as something of an everyman, standing in for the audience as he unravels the threads of the investigation. Mastroianni beautifully captures the essence of a seasoned, world-weary detective trying to unravel a puzzle that is obstinately resistant to being solved. His character's quiet determination and dogged pursuit of the truth irrespective of where it leads him make for a compelling narrative.

The Sunday Woman is not just a riveting murder mystery with a complex plot. It is also a deep exploration of the high society of Turin, with its intricate web of power dynamics, unspoken alliances, and covert relationships. Behind the veil of sophisticated soirees and cultural gatherings, the story manages to dig into the dark underbelly of Turin’s elite society.

Throughout its extensive plot, the movie combines elements of conventional investigative procedures with situations marked by surprising twists and turns, subtly building an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. The Sunday Woman excels in generating an electric suspense that sustains the plot, coupled with an undercurrent of romantic entanglements that further compound the complexity of the narrative.

The direction by Luigi Comencini is top-notch. Capturing the essence of the classic detective crime genre, he skillfully brings to life the classic 1970s Turin, complemented by the exquisite cinematography and layered performances by the star-studded cast. Each frame is carefully crafted to build up the tense atmosphere while keeping the audience's attention directed tirelessly towards the unraveling mystery.

The Sunday Woman is equally compelling for its remarkable execution as it is for its star-studded cast. Interweaving a maelstrom of emotions from suspense to romance, from subtle apprehensions to unveiled revelations, it brilliantly maintains the balance between an intriguing mystery and a deep psycho-social analysis of characters.

The film's title, The Sunday Woman, is a reflection of a term used in the high society of the 1970s, referring to a woman who men desire but only meet on Sundays. As such, it not only comments on the central character but also subtly hints at the society's clandestine norms and code of conduct.

In conclusion, The Sunday Woman is a gripping whodunit set in the backdrop of 1970s Italain high society. With captivating performances by renowned actors, an engrossing narrative, and masterful direction, the movie skillfully explores the thin line between love, power, and crime, providing a thrilling watch for any aficionado of the mystery thriller genre.