Another thought-provoking film by Lina Wertmuller, The story and cinematography is what we have come to expect from Wertmuller's films, beautiful even during the turmoil of war. Italian with English subtitles. The Nymph follows a young girl's difficult passage into womanhood in World War II Italy. Miluzza experiences the love of family, and lust of soldiers and local men who are enchanted by her youth and beauty. Set in a very poor small village, the jealousy and judgment of others weighs heavily on the young Miluzza since her mother, Nunziata, is seen as a loose woman. Wertmuller draws the viewer to Miluzza's side as her innocence is tragically lost. She wonders at one point, "Why is everyone so evil to me?". There are some disturbing images of abuse and rape, but the overall message of this film is of hope and redemption. Miluzza's beautiful spirit triumphs after she helps a wounded Italian soldier return home after he stumbles into her life. Her demure beauty, feminine strength and goodness win over everyone in the end. Highly recommended for foreign film buffs.
9 Reviews
War, Lust, Love and Tradition
claudio_carvalho19 January 2014
In the World War II, in a small Italian village, Nunziata (Stefania Sandrelli) is an easy woman married with the cuckold tailor Gioacchino (Ennio Coltorti). Her teenage daughter Miluzza (Lucia Cara) teases men with her clothes and gets men to lust after her.
One day, Nunziata dies while having intercourse with an Italian Corporal at home, and Miluzza finds a job in the factory of the wealthy Don Peppe (Pepe Da Rosa) that rapes her. When Miluzza returns home, she learns that Gioacchino has died in the afternoon. Soon there are rumors that Miluzza had an affair with Don Peppe, but her grandfather protects her.
Then Miluzza's village is bombed, her grandpa dies and she moves to another town to live with a friend. When she finds the Italian soldier Pietro (Raoul Bova) wounded in the leg in her house, Miluzza saves his life and helps him to return to his family. Pietro proposes to marry her, but her mother wants to prove that Miluzza is virgin before blessing the marriage of her son.
I saw "Ninfa Plebea" for the first time on VHS on 17 May 2003 and I was disappointed with this movie by the great Italian director Lina Wertmüller. First because the amateurish lead actress Lucia Cara is too weak, keeping a cynical smile most of the time and also because there are unnecessary scatological scenes. Today I have just seen it again to reevaluate this story of war, lust, love and tradition, and I liked a little more, but not enough to list this movie among the best of Lina Wertmüller. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Ninfeta Italiana" ("Italian Nymph")
One day, Nunziata dies while having intercourse with an Italian Corporal at home, and Miluzza finds a job in the factory of the wealthy Don Peppe (Pepe Da Rosa) that rapes her. When Miluzza returns home, she learns that Gioacchino has died in the afternoon. Soon there are rumors that Miluzza had an affair with Don Peppe, but her grandfather protects her.
Then Miluzza's village is bombed, her grandpa dies and she moves to another town to live with a friend. When she finds the Italian soldier Pietro (Raoul Bova) wounded in the leg in her house, Miluzza saves his life and helps him to return to his family. Pietro proposes to marry her, but her mother wants to prove that Miluzza is virgin before blessing the marriage of her son.
I saw "Ninfa Plebea" for the first time on VHS on 17 May 2003 and I was disappointed with this movie by the great Italian director Lina Wertmüller. First because the amateurish lead actress Lucia Cara is too weak, keeping a cynical smile most of the time and also because there are unnecessary scatological scenes. Today I have just seen it again to reevaluate this story of war, lust, love and tradition, and I liked a little more, but not enough to list this movie among the best of Lina Wertmüller. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Ninfeta Italiana" ("Italian Nymph")
I suppose this is well-made, but I couldn't finish the film...
planktonrules6 March 2007
The "nymph" in this story is the daughter of a prostitute and while I didn't find this particularly offensive, the whole idea of EVERYONE around the girl touching, talking about and staring at the girl's genitalia certainly did. I have no idea how old this girl actually was (physically, she looked about 13 or 14), but seeing her completely naked was very disconcerting--so much so that I turned off the film midway through it. Now I am sure that many out there might find my attitudes very "bourgeoise" and old fashioned (there's a lot of truth to this), but I also used to be a psychotherapist specializing in working with sexual abuse victims. In light of this, seeing an underage girl being this sexualized just seemed very inappropriate and sick. Now this ISN'T to say that the topic is a problem--just the way it was handled--there is definitely something to be said about a little discretion. My complaints aren't just a slam against director Lina Wertmüller's leftist bent (after all, I loved many of her other films). From what I saw, the film seemed pretty well made, but also excessively crass and disturbing. I just can't recommend it.
Love in the time of war
jotix10013 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
War is raging in Southern Italy. As the story opens we are taken to a small church where people have come to atone for sins they have committed. We see a prostitute in the aisle talking loudly as she wants to repents for her trespasses. At the same moment, the camera focuses on Nunziata, a beautiful woman, standing at the back of the nave. A soldier approaches and goes behind her and we watch as he begins to paw her all over and she responds his advances.
Life in this small hill town is difficult. Nunziata's daughter, the happy go lucky Miluzza, is wiser than her young years. Nunziata is married to Gioacchino, a tailor, but she is free to see whoever she wants. Miluzza, who is admired by all the men in town, even the priest is aware of the young girl charms, doesn't have a boyfriend of her own. When tragedy strikes and her mother dies, she is left alone to fend for herself.
Help comes in the way of Don Peppe, who sees Miluzza working in his canning factory and immediately sets his eye on seducing the beautiful girl. Don Peppe's wife realizes what is going on and chases Miluzza away, but as the war is getting closer, she takes refuge in someone's house.
This is the place where Pietro, a wounded soldier who is walking home from Sicily meets Miluzza. She tends to his wounds and helps him get to his well to do family who lives not far away. Along the way, Pietro falls desperately in love with Miluzza. His family are not too happy to see the son enter into a marriage they consider it's below him. There is also a doubt in Pietro's mother, Gesummina's mind whether the girl is a virgin and worthy of her son's love.
Lina Wertmuller a director that was quite popular in the 1970s when her much loved films "Seven Beauties", and "Swept Away", were released, has adapted a novel by Domenico Rea with Ugo Pirro, to give us this movie about love, sex, and honor, that gets a great treatment on the screen. Her cinematographer, Ennio Guarnieri, captured the life in the small hill town in all its splendor. The haunting music by Ennio Morricone contributes to enhance the film.
Best thing in the movie is the delicious Lucia Cara, who gives life to Miluzza. Ms. Cara makes a wonderful heroine in this tale of lust amid some of the days of WWII in the Campania region of Italy. Stefania Sandrelli, a gorgeous actress, plays Nunziata, the prostitute with a heart of gold. Raoul Bova is the man who is swept off his feet by girl that doesn't expect anything back from him. Isa Danieli is wonderful as Gesummina, the matriarch in Pietro's family.
Ms. Wertmuller deserved better with this film. We don't remember ever having seen it released commercially in this country. The wonderful DVD transfer shows a film that will show why Ms. Wertmuller is one of Italy's best directors, in spite of some recent disappointments.
Life in this small hill town is difficult. Nunziata's daughter, the happy go lucky Miluzza, is wiser than her young years. Nunziata is married to Gioacchino, a tailor, but she is free to see whoever she wants. Miluzza, who is admired by all the men in town, even the priest is aware of the young girl charms, doesn't have a boyfriend of her own. When tragedy strikes and her mother dies, she is left alone to fend for herself.
Help comes in the way of Don Peppe, who sees Miluzza working in his canning factory and immediately sets his eye on seducing the beautiful girl. Don Peppe's wife realizes what is going on and chases Miluzza away, but as the war is getting closer, she takes refuge in someone's house.
This is the place where Pietro, a wounded soldier who is walking home from Sicily meets Miluzza. She tends to his wounds and helps him get to his well to do family who lives not far away. Along the way, Pietro falls desperately in love with Miluzza. His family are not too happy to see the son enter into a marriage they consider it's below him. There is also a doubt in Pietro's mother, Gesummina's mind whether the girl is a virgin and worthy of her son's love.
Lina Wertmuller a director that was quite popular in the 1970s when her much loved films "Seven Beauties", and "Swept Away", were released, has adapted a novel by Domenico Rea with Ugo Pirro, to give us this movie about love, sex, and honor, that gets a great treatment on the screen. Her cinematographer, Ennio Guarnieri, captured the life in the small hill town in all its splendor. The haunting music by Ennio Morricone contributes to enhance the film.
Best thing in the movie is the delicious Lucia Cara, who gives life to Miluzza. Ms. Cara makes a wonderful heroine in this tale of lust amid some of the days of WWII in the Campania region of Italy. Stefania Sandrelli, a gorgeous actress, plays Nunziata, the prostitute with a heart of gold. Raoul Bova is the man who is swept off his feet by girl that doesn't expect anything back from him. Isa Danieli is wonderful as Gesummina, the matriarch in Pietro's family.
Ms. Wertmuller deserved better with this film. We don't remember ever having seen it released commercially in this country. The wonderful DVD transfer shows a film that will show why Ms. Wertmuller is one of Italy's best directors, in spite of some recent disappointments.
A very beautiful film
dleyava11 May 2009
I spent the 2 hours last Saturday evening watching this film (part of a Wertmueller collection I'd purchase a couple of years ago), and when it was over I sat longer in stunned silence, savoring the beautiful film and touching story I'd just been engaged with. Gorgeous scenery and photography, colorful settings, fine acting and ensemble, a touching, even if troubling, story. Yes, this film may be difficult for more sensitive viewers, especially Americans, who are not the most comfortable with bodily functions and casual sexuality. After all, we live in a culture that won't allow a parent to spank their own child, and where a teacher has to make sure another adult is in the room when holding a conference with a student, etc. We've become increasingly distanced from natural affections and physicality, and that's very unlike the characters in this movie, But the Director was not seeking to make a film that would provide titillation as regards young girls, and I'm a gay male with no interest in youngsters, male or female. Rather, she has told a poignant and sometimes wrenching tale of WWII Italy and the tribulations of the child of a "whore" and what she comes to face amongst the difficulties of a society affected by warfare and privation, the attitudes to be found in smaller towns, the assumptions about herself that she has to defeat and her ability to triumph despite it all. Yes, some of the scenes are a bit surprising (I won't say "shocking"), but I never felt as if I was viewing pornography, soft or otherwise. I always felt that the director was seeking to make a point about the figures in her story, and I was left with an overwhelming joy at the basic humanity and "realness" of the characters. I even at first thought the plot may have been taken from a story by Guy de Maupassant, so lovely was its focus on real people, warts and all, without any sign of being judgmental. Please don't allow any misgivings to dissuade you from seeing this film (although you probably won't want to watch it with your kids), I think you will be glad you did when you reach the end.
One of the best romance movies ever made
christianrose12 April 2007
My estimation of this movie puts it ahead of Somewhere in Time, The English Patient and a host of other quality romance films. For you who are cloistered in your views of the human form, human contact and sexuality - you may be offended by how frank and casual this film deals with its protagonist. If you are willing to step outside of your cultural context and explore what life may have been like in an early 20th century rural Italian village, please do watch this film. I cannot praise it enough.
The innocence and gentleness of Miluzza strains the heart as you watch her progression through the story arc. Men are lured in by her sculpted body but disarmed by her smile. And then there's her eyes - sadness and joy flash lightning quick. The style of acting is so natural - I wish the studios would take notice. This film lacks the artifice of so many "dramatic" films. It doesn't need a multi-million dollar film score to move you. It doesn't require dramatic lighting and innovative camera angles to tell you that you're supposed to be feeling something.
Students of cinema and drama should take note at the art of subtlety and restraint this film manifests so effortlessly.
The innocence and gentleness of Miluzza strains the heart as you watch her progression through the story arc. Men are lured in by her sculpted body but disarmed by her smile. And then there's her eyes - sadness and joy flash lightning quick. The style of acting is so natural - I wish the studios would take notice. This film lacks the artifice of so many "dramatic" films. It doesn't need a multi-million dollar film score to move you. It doesn't require dramatic lighting and innovative camera angles to tell you that you're supposed to be feeling something.
Students of cinema and drama should take note at the art of subtlety and restraint this film manifests so effortlessly.
good story of social dilemma of abused girl
jack-32219 May 2001
This movie shows the social dilemma of an abused girl, showing how easily she is victimized, how unaware she is, and how society gives her little chance to escape her role. It does not overplay her role as a victim, and it condemns no individual, only society.
Wonderful, character driven film. You care so much for "Miluzza"
hallka8 August 2006
I began viewing this with trepidation as I'd read a review previously and it sounded if would be a doom and gloom sort of film from beginning to end. While there were dark moments which resulted from the natural course of events during the film, I found the characters to be rich and enjoyable and ones you could really care for. Lucia Cara who played Miluzza was a delight and one could easily fall in love with her and her character. She's a beauty who sparkles. In fact, she IS the film as far as I'm concerned. Apparently she has been in only one other film which I have not yet seen but hopefully there will be many more future films with her in them.
good love story movie. .. but bad movie title.
afterdarkpak30 March 2020
I thought this movie about sexual adventure of a woman who are NOT satisfied, as the english title is" Nymph" . even in start of the movie it feels like there would be alot unfaithful sex scenes , But nope. there is nothing like that.
A movie or story of a GIRL who found a LOVE in very hard , cruel time of war and family. a girl whose mother is unfaithful to husband , it could change her life but its not, the innocent little one still looking for Love.
A good italian movie of mid 90s. good performance also. worth it.
A movie or story of a GIRL who found a LOVE in very hard , cruel time of war and family. a girl whose mother is unfaithful to husband , it could change her life but its not, the innocent little one still looking for Love.
A good italian movie of mid 90s. good performance also. worth it.
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