In 1975, Iranian-born Swiss filmmaker Barbet Schroeder directed (and co-written with Paul Voujargol) a somewhat controversial film called Maitresse, which could be translated from French as “mistress” or “teacher”. In the film, we meet Olivier, a small-time criminal who is set up by fate to fix the pipes of Ariane, a professional dominatrix who has her very own torture chamber. At Ariane’s plea, Olivier assists her in her work, becoming more and more attracted to her in the process.
Even though the British Board of Film Classification called the film well-made and admitted its non-exploitative nature, they refused to grant it a certificate. “The actual scenes of fetishism are miles in excess of anything we have ever passed in this field,” they stated. Forbidden to be shown in public cinemas, Maitresse gained a cult following thanks to numerous private clubs. Five years later, the film received an X certificate after almost five minutes were cut out of the picture. Maitresse is actually one of the first lead roles of French actor Gerard Depardieu, but the show is equally stolen by actress and screenwriter Bulle Ogier in the titular role. A daring and interesting picture ahead of its time, it’s a competent exploration of power dynamics in BDSM and is definitely worthy of checking out.
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