The Laughing Woman
a.k.a. Femina ridens / The Frightened Woman
1969 · Directed by Piero Schivazappa · Italy
Italian psychosexual thriller The Laughing Woman (1969) is a really interesting slice of genre filmmaking.
A young press agent, Maria, played by Dagmar Lassander, is held captive by the director of a philanthropic organisation, who subjects her to an array of humiliating tortures to satisfy his sadistic fantasies. She employs her own mind games to turn this game of cat and mouse on its head.
A decidedly groovy set design and a great soundtrack by Stelvio Cipriani, which blends psychedelia, jazz and funk to great effect, all contribute to a darkly twisted tale of sexual one-upmanship.
Gallery
Trailer
From the score
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Stelvio Cipriani – Femina ridens (Opening Titles)