Tyvian Jones (Stanley Baker) is a literary fraud cashing in on the talent of his dead coal miner brother. The film version of the tome is also a hit and Tyvian is riding the wave of runaway success. Living the lie he marries a gorgeous (Virna Lisi) woman but soon finds himself obsessed with a high class Venice call girl Eva (Jeanne Moreau) that destroys the marriage.
Eva's a typically quirky Joe Losey work that will have many cinephiles dissecting this luridly clunky S&M exercise as Moreau lashes away both figuratively and literally at simpering submissive Baker. It has its striking moments with Baker and Moreau giving well restrained performances amid a Venice back drop, but you soon tire of the pathetic Baker's craven subservience realized in his willingness to sacrifice his wife in favor of debasement.
Eva's a typically quirky Joe Losey work that will have many cinephiles dissecting this luridly clunky S&M exercise as Moreau lashes away both figuratively and literally at simpering submissive Baker. It has its striking moments with Baker and Moreau giving well restrained performances amid a Venice back drop, but you soon tire of the pathetic Baker's craven subservience realized in his willingness to sacrifice his wife in favor of debasement.