Playing with Love

Playing with Love

1977 · 94 min · IT · R · 5.3 (87 votes)
Dir. Pier Giuseppe Murgia · Starring Lara Wendel, Éva Ionesco, Martin Loeb
Drama

Laura and Fabrizio have been meeting every summer in the forest by her parent's summer home. Fabrizio is a solitary boy with only his dog for company; Laura a sweet but unconfident child. This summer new aspects enter into their story as both are growing up. Laura is falling in love with Fabrizio, while he displays a new sexual awareness of her masked by his malice. Things develop further when they meet Sylvia who, unlike the innocent Laura, is confident and assertive. Fabrizio develops a fascination with her, eventually bribing Laura to fetch her to the forest to join them in play.

VIBE

A sun-drenched, yet emotionally fraught, exploration of burgeoning desire and the painful awkwardness of first love. It captures the humid, restless energy of youth and the quiet desperation of unspoken feelings.

nostalgicawkwardyearningmelancholicslow-burnEuropean arthousenaturalisticcoming-of-age dramacoming-of-ageunrequited lovesexual awakeninginnocence lost
love trianglecavesummer residenceforestgrowing upteenage sexuality