Eugenie (1970) (3 Stars)

This is a loose adaptation of Marquis de Sade's "Philosophy in the Bedroom", filmed by Jess Franco in 1970. Curiously, he adapted the same story again in 1980. It would be interesting to compare the two films.

Eugenie is the 15-year-old daughter of a rich businessman who lives in Spain. Her father is having an affair with a Spanish noblewoman, Marianne de Saint-Ange. Marianne tells him that beautiful woman always come with a high price. When he asks her why a woman as wealthy as her needs more money she says that she doesn't want his money, she wants his daughter. The man gives his daughter permission to stay on Marianne's private island for a week during her school holidays.

Marianne and her brother Mirval live together in an incestuous relationship. They're also members of a secret society that practises extreme sado-masochistic practises. How extreme? They believe that the ultimate in sexual pleasure can only be reached at the moment of death. The elegant gentleman Dolmancé, played by Christopher Lee, is the leader of the society. He presides over wild orgies that frequently end with women being killed.

Marianne's intention is to educate, corrupt and destroy Eugenie. On the first evening Eugenie loses her virginity when she's raped by Mirval. On the second evening she's whipped and tortured by members of the society. On the third evening she's encouraged to commit murder.

The film left me shell-shocked. It's so lacking in morality, it's as if it takes place in a world where morals don't exist. Why was a film like this made? What inspired Marquis de Sade to write the book? It's as if the author and the film director wanted to shock the public just for the sake of it.

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