The Libertine
- Year: 1968
- Country of origin: Italy
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Director: Pasquale Festa Campanile
- Length: 90 min
There comes a time in every girl’s life…
Film Synopsis
The Libertine (1968) follows a young widow who discovers that her late husband kept a secret apartment filled with his erotic fantasies and sexual escapades. As she explores his hidden room and begins to live out his fantasies—experimenting with different lovers and forms of desire—she challenges social norms and her own understanding of intimacy. This erotic comedy blends sexual liberation, psychological curiosity, and bittersweet irony in a provocative tale of self-discovery and feminine empowerment.
Critical Perspective
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Many European sex comedies are about as much fun as having a root canal, but here’s a welcome exception. Produced at the height of groovy op art mania, The Libertine (La matriarca) is a bubbly, enchanting meditation on the foibles of the human libido as seen through the eyes of Mimi (Catherine Spaak at her loveliest), an unlikely and wealthy young widow who - thanks to the advice of her lecherous attorney - discovers her husband kept a swanky sex pad on the other side of town where he indulged in all manner of perverse sexplay. … Those expecting an orgy of bare flesh and dirty jokes may be caught off guard by The Libertine, which lures the viewer in with the promise of a walk on the wild side and winds up delivering something far more interesting and profound. … See it with someone you plan to seduce.
Nathaniel Thompson, DVD Delirium: The International Guide to Weird and Wonderful Films on DVD, Volume 1 Redux (FAB Press, 2006)
The Libertine Blu-ray & DVD editions
See which disc extras are included across selected editions.
| Disc Extras | Nucleus BD-B/UK 2020 | First Run DVD-1/US/OOP 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Commentary by Kat Ellinger | ||
| Fantasy, Futurism & Frivolity - Video Essay by Rachael Nisbet | ||
| Trovajoli: Postlude - Interview with Lovely Jon | ||
| Alternate English Opening Title and End Sequences as “The Aristotle Perversion” | ||
| Alternate French Opening and End Sequences as “L’amour à cheval” | ||
| Alternate Takes | ||
| Outtakes and Deleted Scenes | ||
| Japanese Video Promo | ||
| U.K. Censor Cuts Notes | ||
| Audubon Films Poster Gallery | ||
| Stills Gallery [First Run] | ||
| Stills Gallery [Nucleus] | ||
| TopFilm Fotoromanzo Gallery | ||
| Film Notes by Nathaniel Thompson | ||
| English Theatrical Trailer | ||
| French Theatrical Trailer | ||
| Italian Theatrical Trailer | ||
| US Theatrical Trailer 1 | ||
| US Theatrical Trailer 2 |
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Collector’s guide
Compare presentation quality and explore notable disc extras across selected editions.
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Fantasy, Futurism & Frivolity (26:58) -
Trovajoli: Postlude (28:10)
| Editions |
Nucleus BD 2020
|
|---|---|
| Extras | Audio Commentary by Kat Ellinger Nucleus BD |
| Fantasy, Futurism & Frivolity - Video Essay by Rachael Nisbet Nucleus BD | |
| Trovajoli: Postlude - Interview with Lovely Jon Nucleus BD | |
| Alternate English Opening Title and End Sequences as “The Aristotle Perversion” Nucleus BD | |
| Alternate French Opening and End Sequences as “L’amour à cheval” Nucleus BD | |
| Alternate Takes First Run DVD | |
| Outtakes and Deleted Scenes Nucleus BD | |
| Japanese Video Promo Nucleus BD | |
| U.K. Censor Cuts Notes Nucleus BD | |
| Audubon Films Poster Gallery Nucleus BD | |
| Stills Gallery [First Run] First Run DVD | |
| Stills Gallery [Nucleus] Nucleus BD | |
| TopFilm Fotoromanzo Gallery Nucleus BD | |
| Film Notes by Nathaniel Thompson First Run DVD | |
| English Theatrical Trailer Nucleus BD | |
| French Theatrical Trailer Nucleus BD | |
| Italian Theatrical Trailer Nucleus BD | |
| US Theatrical Trailer 1 Nucleus BD | |
| US Theatrical Trailer 2 Nucleus BD |