The influences of Wertm�ller
The nazi commandant from Seven Beauties
Lina Wertm�ller has been influenced be elements found in both the "Commedia dell'Arte" and Federico Fellini's films. She relies on slapstick interactions, common in the "Commedia dell' Arte" for comedic effects, such as the scene in Sotto,Sotto when Oscar complains about women in a drunken stupor. The recurring image of grotesque stems from her early work with Fellini and from her travels with a "Commedia dell'Arte" puppet show. Most of her grotesque images are of women-- the commandant and the older sister in 7 Beauties, the cuckholded wife in The Seduction of Mimi, and the old whores in Love and Anarchy. Interestingly, the older sister in Beauties, the wife in Mimi, and the old whores in Love and Anarchy are all played by the same actress, and the are all vaguely reminiscent of Fellini's Saraghina from 8 1/2. Wertm�ller uses the grotesque images for humor, although many people just see them as shockingly disgusting.
In this clip, we see the commandant that Pasquilino tries to seduce. This is an example of Wertm�ller's use of the grotesque. The angle in which she is filmed makes her seem even less desirable.
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