The Vacation -la Vacanza- - Tinto Brass 1971 -s... _top_ -

Directed by Tinto Brass, The Vacation (Italian: La vacanza, 1971) is an unconventional drama that blends surrealism with social satire. Awarded "Best Italian Film" at the 1971 Venice Film Festival, it stars Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero in their second collaboration with Brass following Dropout. Plot Summary

The story follows Immacolata (Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman who was previously committed to a mental asylum after a scandalous affair with a Count. She is granted a one-month "experimental leave" (the titular vacation) to prove she can function in society.

Upon her return, her family—who are portrayed through absurd exaggerations—reject her and essentially sell her to a creditor. Immacolata escapes and begins a free-flowing, often bizarre journey through the Italian countryside. Along the way, she falls in love with a poacher named Osiride (Franco Nero) and finds kinship with a group of outcasts, including gypsies and a traveling salesman named Gigi. Her temporary freedom is short-lived, as her journey is marred by criminal accusations and eventual tragedy. Themes and Artistic Style

Social Critique: The film is a sharp satire of societal institutions, including the family, the church, and psychiatric care. Brass presents the "outside" world as just as irrational and cruel as the asylum from which Immacolata escaped.

Experimental Filmmaking: While less frenetic than Brass’s earlier works, The Vacation still features experimental editing and surreal imagery. It has been described as a "surrealist fairy tale" with echoes of Luis Buñuel’s work.

Authenticity and Outcasts: The film highlights the beauty of marginalized lives. The soundtrack, composed by Fiorenzo Carpi, features lyrics written by actual mental institution inmates, emphasizing the film's focus on authentic, "mad" voices.

Performance: Vanessa Redgrave’s performance is widely cited as one of her most raw and "unglamorous" roles, capturing both the fragility and defiance of Immacolata. Tinto Brass - Vacation

Brief critical take

La vacanza stands as a thoughtful, somber study of a woman pushed to the margins by love and society. It’s rewarding for viewers interested in character-driven European cinema and the socio-cultural anxieties of 1970s Italy.

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La Vacanza (1971), directed by Tinto Brass, remains one of the most enigmatic and politically charged works of early 1970s Italian cinema. Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero, the film is far removed from the stylized erotica that Brass would later become famous for, instead serving as a gritty, satirical critique of societal norms and institutional power. Plot Summary: A Leave of Absence from Sanity

The story follows Immacolata (Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman who has been committed to a mental asylum by her former lover, a Count, after he tires of her and returns to his wife. The film begins with Immacolata granted a one-month "vacation"—an experimental leave to determine if she can reintegrate into society. Her return to "civilization" is anything but welcoming:

Betrayal by Family: Her own parents reject her and eventually attempt to sell her to a creditor to pay off a debt.

Life on the Fringes: After escaping her family, she finds temporary solace with a poacher named Osiride (Franco Nero) and a group of gypsies and misfits, including an eccentric Englishman named Gigi (Corin Redgrave).

Tragic Conclusion: The "vacation" spirals into a series of bizarre and increasingly violent encounters, culminating in a tragic clash with the authorities. Production and Artistic Style

Shot primarily on location in the Po Delta region, the film utilizes a cinéma vérité style, featuring direct sound and regional dialects (Venetian and Milanese).

Collaborative Effort: Brass, Redgrave, and Nero reportedly funded the low-budget 16mm production themselves after collaborating on the film Dropout (1970).

Experimental Score: The soundtrack, composed by Fiorenzo Carpi, features haunting lyrics written by actual inmates of mental institutions, heightening the film’s themes of marginalized sanity. Critical Reception and Legacy

La Vacanza premiered at the 1971 Venice Film Festival, where it famously provoked a near-riot. While the audience responded with shouts of "Schifo" (disgusting) and "Basta" (enough), the film was paradoxically awarded the prize for Best Italian Film. The Vacation -La Vacanza- - Tinto Brass 1971 -S...

Critics today view it as a key work in Brass’s "political" phase, showcasing a "modern fairy-tale" structure that challenges the conventions of the time. It stands as a stark reminder of a period in European cinema when directors used the medium to aggressively deconstruct social and legal institutions. Cast and Crew Highlights Director / Editor Tinto Brass Immacolata Meneghelli Vanessa Redgrave Osiride (The Poacher) Franco Nero Gigi (The Englishman) Corin Redgrave The Judge Leopoldo Trieste Cinematographer Silvano Ippoliti Vacation (1971) - IMDb

The Vacation (La Vacanza): Tinto Brass’s Forgotten Masterpiece Released in 1971, La Vacanza

(The Vacation) stands as a pivotal but often overlooked entry in the filmography of Italian provocateur Tinto Brass

. Far removed from the stylised erotica of his later career, such as The Key or Caligula, this film is a surreal, politically charged drama that critiques social conformity and institutional cruelty. Synopsis and Themes

The story follows Immacolata (Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman and mistress of a local count. When the count tires of her, he has her committed to a mental asylum. The "vacation" of the title refers to her one-month experimental release from the institution to test if she can function in "normal" society.

A "Fairy Tale" of Rejection: Upon her release, Immacolata is rejected by her family, who eventually "sell" her to a creditor as if she were livestock.

Encounters with Outcasts: On her journey, she meets a variety of unconventional characters, most notably Osiride (Franco Nero), a sympathetic poacher with whom she shares a series of free-flowing, bizarre adventures.

Social Commentary: The film serves as a scathing satire of the hypocrisy of the ruling class and the rigid structures of the church and state, which Brass portrays as more "insane" than the patients in the asylum. Notable Cast and Crew

The film reunited the trio of Brass, Redgrave, and Nero following their work on the 1970 romantic drama Dropout.

Vanessa Redgrave: Stars as Immacolata in what critics have called one of her most unglamorous and powerful roles.

Franco Nero: Plays the poacher Osiride and also served as a producer on the film.

Corin Redgrave: Vanessa’s brother appears as "Gigi the Englishman," a travelling salesman.

Technical Style: The film features experimental editing and a cinéma vérité feel, with much of the audio captured on location rather than re-dubbed in a studio—a rarity for Italian cinema of the era. Critical Legacy and Controversy

Venice Success: Despite its difficult subject matter, the film won the Pasinetti Award for Best Italian Film at the 1971 Venice Film Festival.

Polarising Reception: Its festival screening was highly controversial; reports suggest audience members were so outraged by the film's "grotesque" depictions and political bite that they nearly provoked a riot.

Rarity: For decades, La Vacanza was difficult to see, often only available on poor-quality Italian VHS tapes. It has recently seen a resurgence through retrospectives like those at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. Production Details Information Director Tinto Brass Runtime Approx. 101 minutes Language Italian (with various dialects) Score

Jazz-influenced, featuring tracks like "Dove vai in vacanza?" Directed by Tinto Brass , The Vacation (Italian:

La Vacanza (1971), directed by Tinto Brass , is a surrealist social drama that critiques the blurred lines between individual madness and societal sanity. Released during Brass's more politically and experimentally charged era, the film stars Vanessa Redgrave Franco Nero and won the Pasinetti Award for Best Italian Film at the Venice Film Festival. Core Narrative The story follows Immacolata

(Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman who was committed to a mental asylum after being discarded by her lover, a local Count. She is granted a one-month experimental leave—the "vacation" of the title—to see if she can reintegrate into society.

Upon her release, she finds the "normal" world just as oppressive and irrational as the institution she left: Family Betrayal

: Her family rejects her and eventually sells her to a creditor to pay off debts. Bizarre Allies

: She escapes and finds companionship with social outcasts, including a birdcatcher/poacher named (Franco Nero) and a group of gypsies. Tragic Cycle

: Despite her quest for freedom, her journey is marked by criminal encounters and further imprisonment, ultimately suggesting that true freedom is impossible within a "mad" civilization. Thematic & Stylistic Highlights Anti-Establishment Critique : Like Brass’s other early work (e.g.,

), the film uses madness as a metaphor for non-conformity. It portrays the clergy, the police, and the upper class as the truly "insane" forces that enforce order through cruelty. Experimental Direction : While less frenetic than Brass's earlier films like Nerosubianco

, it still utilizes quick cuts, zoom shots, and surrealist visual metaphors. For instance, to emphasize Immacolata's status as a "misfit," her relatives are played by little people. Vanessa Redgrave's Performance

: Often cited as one of her most unglamorous and powerful roles, Redgrave portrays Immacolata with a raw, earthy intensity. Surrealist Tone

: Critics often compare the film's atmosphere to the works of Luis Buñuel, blending folk-style music with bizarre, dreamlike scenarios. Key Production Details Tinto Brass

Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, Leopoldo Trieste, Corin Redgrave Cinematography Silvano Ippoliti Pasinetti Award (Venice Film Festival, 1971) or more details on Tinto Brass’s shift toward the erotic genre in later years? Vacation (1971) - IMDb

Tinto Brass's 1971 film La Vacanza (The Vacation) is a biting, experimental critique of societal norms and institutional oppression.

Before he became internationally known as a maestro of softcore erotica, director Tinto Brass was a fierce proponent of the avant-garde. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 4, 1971, where it was awarded the prestigious Pasinetti Award for Best Italian Film. 🎬 The Plot: A "Vacation" from Sanity

The film follows Immacolata, played by a fiercely unglamorous Vanessa Redgrave:

The Premise: Deemed mentally unstable, Immacolata is granted a experimental one-month leave—or "vacation"—from a psychiatric hospital to see if she can reintegrate into society.

The Reality: Society proves to be far madder than the asylum. Her family rejects her, eventually selling her to a creditor to pay off a debt.

The Escape: She breaks away and joins up with Osiride (Franco Nero), a sympathetic poacher. Together, they embark on a series of surreal, free-flowing adventures that expose the hypocrisy of the upper classes and the legal system. 🌟 Star-Studded Cast Brief critical take La vacanza stands as a

The film brought together some of the most prominent acting talents of the era, marking a reunion for several of them: Vanessa Redgrave as Immacolata. Franco Nero as Osiride. Corin Redgrave as Gigi the Englishman. Leopoldo Trieste as the Judge.

had famously collaborated just a year prior on another radical romantic drama titled Dropout. 🎨 Style & Reception

La Vacanza represents Tinto Brass at the peak of his early, politically charged period.

Experimental Language: The film utilizes fragmented, rapid-fire editing and highly stylized camera movements.

Satirical Bite: It serves as a relentless attack on the nuclear family, the Catholic church, and psychiatric institutions.

Cult Status: While it was highly acclaimed by critics in Venice, it faced censorship battles and was largely kept out of mainstream American theaters for decades. Tinto Brass - Vacation

Franco Nero as Osvaldo

Nero, who was Redgrave’s real-life lover at the time, brings a raw, animalistic energy. He is stripped of the typical "leading man" gloss. He is dirty, sweaty, and inarticulate. His performance grounds the film’s surreal elements in a gritty reality.

6. Production Context & Trivia

• Real-Life Chemistry: The intense chemistry between Redgrave and Nero was genuine. They were involved in a famous romantic relationship off-screen during this era (and would eventually marry decades later).
• The Setting: The film was shot on location in the Polesine region, an area known for its fog and drainage pumps. The environment was specifically chosen to reflect the "foggy" mental state of the protagonist.
• Cannes Reception: The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971. It polarized critics; many praised its visual audacity, while others were alienated by its slow pace and cynical tone.
• The Transition: This film marks the end of Brass’s "political/surrealist" phase. After this, he would move toward the erotic genre for which he became famous. The Vacation is the bridge where the surreal meets the sensual.

5. Performance Deep Dive

Jimmy Page: The Silent Guitar Hero as Actor

Now, we address the elephant in the room: Jimmy Page as an actor.

In 1971, Led Zeppelin was becoming the biggest rock band on the planet. Page was known for his occult obsessions, his double-necked guitar, and his fierce reluctance to give interviews. Why did he agree to star in an obscure Italian art film?

The story is legendary. Page was on holiday in Rome, visiting his friend, the artist and occultist Kenneth Anger. Anger introduced Page to Tinto Brass at a party. Brass, who had no idea who Led Zeppelin was (he listened almost exclusively to opera and jazz), saw Page’s angular face, his bony fingers, and his natural air of melancholic aristocracy. “He looked like a Modigliani painting that had learned to smoke,” Brass later said.

Brass offered Page the role of Guglielmo, a character who speaks fewer than fifty words in the entire film. “I need a presence, not a performance,” Brass told him. Page agreed on two conditions: (1) He would not have to do any press interviews, and (2) He could improvise a guitar piece for the soundtrack.

The result is astonishing. Page, silent and chain-smoking, delivers a performance that is either brilliantly minimalist or utterly wooden, depending on your taste. He stares into middle distance. He touches Immacolata’s hair as if it were a rare artifact. In the film’s only moment of genuine emotion, Guglielmo smashes a radio that is playing a pop song (a clear prefiguration of punk’s coming rage). But he does it slowly, methodically, like a ritual.

The guitar piece, titled “La Vacanza (Theme),” is a 9-minute acoustic dirge. It never appeared on any Led Zeppelin album. Bootlegs of the track are holy grails for collectors. It is a haunting, Eastern-tinged composition played on a Danelectro, full of open strings and dissonant harmonics. It sounds like loneliness distilled.

About the Film

• Title: La Vacanza (The Vacation)
• Director: Tinto Brass
• Release Year: 1971
• Genre: Erotic Drama
• Country: Italy

Final Verdict

The Vacation - La Vacanza is not an easy watch. It demands patience and rewards it with a visceral understanding of romantic decay. Tinto Brass would go on to make louder, funnier, and more famous films, but he never again made one as raw, quiet, and genuinely sad. It is a vacation you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy—and a film you won’t easily forget.

Rating: ★★★½ (Highly recommended for fans of Antonioni’s L’Avventura and the darker corners of 1970s Italian cinema.)

Streaming Availability: Rare. Currently surfaces in restored prints at cinematheques and on select boutique Blu-ray labels (Cult Epics has released a restored version in some regions).