For those of you who haven't seen a Makavejev film, this might be a nice place to start, as it actually has something of a linear plot and familiar actors (Molina, Serbedzija, Stolz, Anwar). Taken (rather loosely) from a short story by Emile Zola, this film is fascinating on a number of levels, not the least of which is that it was shot in what was Yugoslavia before the war. It's a beautiful country, just gorgeous. The plot is great fun- in a small village 'somewhere in eastern Europe', the King is coming for a visit and the secret police arrive to make sure the village is safe- which of course it isn't. Camilla Soeberg as the lead girl is lovely and strong, Alfred Molina as the head of the secret service is hysterical, Rade Serbedzija as the servant having it on with the masters daughter is fiercely sexual, and Eric Stolz as the gentle postman in love is terrific. There's not a weak link in the cast, and it's a joyride from start to finish. Featuring some surprisingly sexy scenes, Gabrielle Anwars first film role, and some wonderful hamming from Simon Callow (for whom 'over the top' is too tame a description) this movie is fun, sexy, and political, which are the hallmarks of Makavejev, one of the best and most original foreign directors around working today.
