La Cicala (aka The Cricket) (1980)

Odd little film by director Albert Lattuada (FRAULEIN DOKTOR) is about an aging washed up showgirl (Virna Lisi), who prostitutes on the side, who hooks up with a free spirit (Clio Goldsmith) known as La Cicala “The Cricket” who becomes her only friend. Lisi impulsively marries an older man (Anthony Franciosa) which she sees as her last chance but when her 18 year old daughter (Barbara De Rossi) arrives to live with them, she’s threatened by the daughter’s burgeoning sexuality and they become rivals which leads to disaster. On one hand, it’s a serious character study of a woman frightened of losing her beauty and sexuality which is how she defines herself and Lisi’s performance her was good enough to get her the Italian Oscar for best actress, the David Di Donatello award. On the other hand, Lattuada’s penchant for getting Goldsmith and De Rossi nude or in various stages of undress at every opportunity borders on softcore porn. The character’s action seem arbitrary with very little logical motivation and there’s a vaguely sexist undercurrent as the women are punished for their transgressions but the males aren’t. Definitely worth a look for Virna Lisi’s performance though. With Renato Salvatori.