“How to Seduce a Virgin 1974” is a French film directed by Jess Franco. The film revolves around a young man named Alain who is tasked with seducing the virgin daughter of a wealthy family in order to blackmail them. Alain uses his charm and cunning to manipulate the young woman into falling for him, but things quickly spiral out of control as his deception begins to catch up with him. The film is filled with eroticism and suspense, making it a must-see for fans of classic French cinema.
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Review
How to Seduce a Virgin: A Misleading Title for a Thought-Provoking Film
Let’s start by acknowledging the elephant in the room: the title of this movie could be off-putting to some. How to Seduce a Virgin sounds like a sleazy exploitation flick that would make Seth Godin cringe. However, don’t judge a book by its cover, or a movie by its title. What lies beneath the provocative name is an insightful and emotionally resonant story about growing up, friendship, and identity.
The film, directed by Jess Franco and released in 1974, takes place in a small Spanish town where a group of young men spends their days hanging out, drinking beer, and talking about girls. The protagonist, Manuel (Antonio Mayans), is a charismatic but troubled guy who dreams of being an artist but feels stifled by his conservative environment. His best friend, Paco (Rafael Machado), is more level-headed and responsible, but also has his own share of insecurities.
One day, Manuel decides to seduce Pili (Lina Romay), the pure and innocent daughter of the town’s richest man. He sees it as a challenge and an act of rebellion against the oppressive societal norms he’s been raised with. Paco disapproves of the plan but tags along anyway, partly out of loyalty to his friend and partly because he’s attracted to Pili himself.
What follows is not what you’d expect from a movie with such a suggestive title. How to Seduce a Virgin is not about exploiting women or glorifying male conquests; in fact, it subverts those tropes by showing how hollow and damaging they can be. When Manuel finally gets Pili alone in his studio and tries to make his move, he realizes that she’s not just an object of desire but a person with her own fears and desires.
Their interaction is awkward, tender, and bittersweet; it’s a moment of awakening for both of them. Pili realizes that the sheltered life she’s led so far has left her unprepared for the complexities of adult relationships. Manuel realizes that his artistic aspirations are not enough to fill the void inside him, and that he needs to confront his demons and find a purpose.
Meanwhile, Paco is left outside, feeling excluded and conflicted. He loves Pili but also feels jealous and resentful of Manuel’s charisma and talent. The triangular relationship between the three characters is what drives the plot forward and gives it emotional depth.
The acting in How to Seduce a Virgin is not Oscar-worthy, but it’s effective in conveying the nuances of the characters’ personalities. Antonio Mayans brings a magnetic presence to Manuel, making him both charming and unsettling. Rafael Machado plays Paco with a quiet intensity that makes him more sympathetic than he first appears. Lina Romay, who was also Franco’s muse and real-life partner, imbues Pili with an innocence that never becomes cloying or clichéd.
The cinematography by Juan Soler captures the beauty and decay of the Spanish countryside with a poetic eye. The score by Daniel J. White complements the mood with haunting melodies that accentuate the characters’ inner turmoil.
How to Seduce a Virgin was not a commercial success upon its release, nor did it earn critical acclaim. It was dismissed as another sleazy Eurotrash flick, despite its subversive themes. However, over time it has gained a cult following among fans of European cult cinema who appreciate its unique blend of arthouse sensibilities and exploitation aesthetics.
In conclusion, How to Seduce a Virgin might have an off-putting title, but it’s not what you’d expect from it. It’s a movie about finding one’s place in the world when everything seems against you. It’s about the complexities of human relationships and the confusion of adolescence. It’s a movie that challenges our preconceptions and makes us think. And that’s something Seth Godin would approve of.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 80
- Release : 1974-06-19
- Genre : Drama
- Cast : Alice Arno as Martine Bressac, Howard Vernon as Mathias, Tania Busselier as Cécile, Alfred Baillou as Malou, Robert Woods as Charles Bressac
- Crew : Howard Vernon as Still Photographer, Jesús Franco as Director, Jesús Franco as Writer, Donatien Alphonse François de Sade as Novel, Gérard Brisseau as Director of Photography
- Popularity 3.751
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP)
- Summary : Martine Bressac is released from a psychiatric clinic after a year’s treatment and is driven home by her chauffeur, Mathias. She is welcomed by the demented hunchbacked gardener Malou and the mute servant girl Adèle, and impatiently demands the key to her mysterious private chamber. There, set out like exhibits in a waxwork, are the bodies of beautiful girls frozen in postures of terror on the point of death. With Mathias’ help, Martine has just added another girl, a prostitute, to her collection when her husband and accomplice, Charles, arrives home with slides of a further prospective victim: Cécile the virginal daughter of a diplomat…
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