Swept Away

Bitingly satirical social drama directed by Lena Wertmller. Rafaella (Mariangela Melato) is a wealthy capitalist with everything she wants in life: a rich husband, exotic holidays and servants to carry out her every whim. On holiday aboard a private yacht in the Mediterranean, she demands that deckhand Gennarino (Giancarlo Giannini) take her to a nearby island for a swim. There, the motor on the dinghy fails, and the two become stranded on a desolate beach. This extreme situation causes a diametric shift in the relationship between the two: Rafaella finds herself helpless and utterly reliant on Gennarino; while Gennarino revels in – and ultimately exploits – his newfound power.