Upon viewing “Swept Away” it is easy to forget that it was written and directed by a woman, Lina Wertmuller. While Wertmuller sets out to create a film about politics and class struggle, the subverted relationship between the rich Raphaella (Mariangela Melato) and the poor sailor Gennarino (Giancarlo Giannini), immediately dominates and intrigues its audience. The two become stranded on a deserted island alone together and Gennarino is charged with being responsible for their survival. Raphaella appears to gain pleasure from verbally assaulting and giving orders to the lowly sailor, while his animosity toward her grows. Gennarino quickly realizes that his survival skills give him the upper hand in the relationship and stages a sort of one-man worker’s revolt against the capitalist pig, Raphaella. In a display of sexual violence that leaves many feminists up in arms about the film, Gennarino assumes his dominance over Raphaella. Giannini and Melato perform these roles with such stellar conviction that you are completely enveloped in the story of love and survival that ensues. Wertmuller began her film career as the third assistant director to Federico Fellini on his masterpiece “8 ½” and was the first female director nominated for an academy award for another masterful work called, “Seven Beauties.” Her wonderfully controversial films will leave a lasting impression and cannot be missed.
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