What? (1972) ( Che? ) ( Diary of Forbidden Dreams )

What? (1972) (DVD) (*)

~~$25.99~~ $19.97

Original Title: Che?
Alternate Title: Diary of Forbidden Dreams
Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Italian ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
110 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Biographies
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1972 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
Italy ( Italy, Greece )

Directed By:
Roman Polanski

Written By:
Roman Polanski
Gérard Brach

Actors:
Marcello Mastroianni ..... Alex
Sydne Rome ..... Nancy
Hugh Griffith ..... Joseph Noblart
Guido Alberti ..... Priest
Gianfranco Piacentini ..... Tony
Carlo Delle Piane ..... Young Oaf #1 in Car
Mario Bussolino ..... Young Oaf #2 in Car
Henning Schlüter ..... Catone
Christiane Barry ..... Dresser
Pietro Tordi ..... Man-Servant
Nerina Montagnani ..... Chambermaid
Mogens von Gadow ..... German
Dieter Hallervorden ..... German
Elisabeth Witte ..... Nurse
John Karlsen ..... Edward

Synopsis:

One of Roman Polanski's lesser-known films, Diary of Forbidden Dreams (also known as What?) stars Sydne Rome as an attractive young hitchhiker who, as the film opens, accepts a ride from three men in a car, who later attempt to rape her. She escapes their clutches and makes her way to a mansion owned by millionaire Joseph Noblart (Hugh Griffith), who is overseeing a decadent party. Among the guests at his home are a pair of table-tennis players, a man with a harpoon (played by Polanski himself), and a hedonistic pimp played by Marcello Mastroianni. The woman's sexually charged adventure is an homage to Alice in Wonderland.

Set in an unnamed coastal city in Italy, the movie tells a story of an American girl, Nancy (Sydne Rome) who, after a rape attempt, takes shelter in a villa where strange guests go around. There she gets into a relationship with a retired pimp, Alex (Marcello Mastroianni). Nancy's adventures have been compared with those of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, although turned into erotic ones. Critics have also pointed out the movie's lack of connectiveness and the excessive absurdity of several situations.

A young American woman (Sydne Rome) traveling through Italy finds herself in a strange Mediterranean villa where nothing seems right. Her visit becomes an absurd, decadent, oversexed version of "Alice in Wonderland", with Marcello Mastroianni as the maddest of mad hatters and Roman Polanski a kinky March hare.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 09 August, 2021.