Watch The Sunday Woman

"The Sunday Woman" (Italian: La donna della domenica) is a captivating Italian film noir from 1975, based on the novel by Italian authors Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini. Directed by Luigi Comencini, a renowned Italian filmmaker known for his diverse body of work that often explores social themes, this film presents a meld of mystery, drama, and subtle humor in a tale that delves into the complexities of high society and human relationships.

Set against the backdrop of the sophisticated and picturesque city of Turin, the story follows the enigmatic murder investigation of a seemingly innocuous architect. As the plot unfolds through a tapestry of intrigue and clandestine affairs, the film layers its narrative with critical observations about the opulence and superficiality that often masks the murkier depths of the upper echelon of Italian society.

The investigation is led by the suave, yet somewhat weary Police Commissioner Santamaria, portrayed by Marcello Mastroianni, whose iconic status in Italian cinema is cemented by a career of unforgettable roles. Mastroianni infuses his character with a mix of earnest diligence and world-weary cynicism, as he becomes increasingly entangled in a web of deceit and manipulation spun by the elite residents he encounters in the course of his inquiries.

One of the central characters Santamaria meets is the enigmatic Anna Carla Dosio, played by the radiant Jacqueline Bisset. Bisset’s Anna Carla is a wealthy socialite, as alluring as she is inscrutable, providing the Commissioner with both a potential key to the mystery and a source of personal fascination. With her husband's affections fading, Anna Carla becomes embroiled in the case, her presence revealing the fault lines of jealousy, vanity, and hypocrisy lying beneath the city's aristocratic surface.

Jean-Louis Trintignant portrays Luigi, a character of equally vital importance, whose interactions with the other leading figures further complicate the narrative with layers of romantic and interpersonal intrigue. Trintignant's nuanced performance captures the inner turmoil and concealed motives that drive the plot's momentum and contribute to the film's lingering sense of unease and doubt.

As the Commissioner delves deeper into the case, both the audience and Santamaria himself are faced with an array of idiosyncratic characters, from effete noblemen and avant-garde artists to disaffected wives and sharp-minded journalists. These diverse vignettes are meticulously crafted, adding to the film's rich social commentary while challenging the audience's perceptions and keeping the true nature of the crime and its perpetrator tantalizingly out of reach.

Comencini expertly uses Turin's foggy streets, elegant palazzos, and modernist architecture to create an atmosphere that is at once alienating and intimately revealing. The city itself becomes a character, contributing to the sense of disorientation and concealment as the Commissioner navigates its labyrinthine social structures, searching for truth. Cinematography by Ennio Guarnieri enhances the narrative with images that capture the chilling beauty of the city and the stylish façades that mask the darker underbelly of Italian society during the 1970s.

The film's pacing is methodical, allowing the story to simmer and build tension as clues are discovered and alliances shift. Despite the film’s central murder plot, "The Sunday Woman" is also a psychological study, inviting viewers to ponder not only whodunit, but the moral ambiguities and personal compromises that define the characters' lives. With masterful editing that keeps the story clear yet complex, the picture skillfully avoids devolving into a simple procedural or a typical genre piece.

Adding to the immersive experience, "The Sunday Woman" features a melodic and evocative score by celebrated composer Ennio Morricone. His music underscores the film with haunting themes that mirror the story's blend of melodrama and philosophical musings on the human condition. Morricone's compositions add an additional layer to the film that touches on the emotional core of the narrative, enhancing the suspense and overall mood.

A true gem among Italian thrillers of the period, "The Sunday Woman" stands out for its elegant deconstruction of societal facades and the murky depths lying beneath them. It is a cinematic experience that not only offers an engrossing mystery but also serves as a time capsule of Italy's cultural and social climate during the 1970s. Fans of the noir genre, Italian cinema, and those who appreciate a film that provokes thought well after the final credits roll will find much to savor in this complex tapestry of a movie.

The Sunday Woman is a 1976 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.