delivers a surrealist, anti-establishment drama that is far removed from the hyper-eroticized "Cheeky" style he became known for later in his career. Instead, La Vacanza is a biting social critique wrapped in a dreamlike, avant-garde aesthetic. The story follows Immacolata
: On her journey, she meets a variety of unconventional characters, most notably Osiride (Franco Nero), a sympathetic poacher with whom she shares a series of free-flowing, bizarre adventures.
Redgrave and Nero were so passionate about the project that they helped self-fund it.
Co-written by Brass alongside Roberto Lerici and Vincenzo M. Siniscalchi, the film directly tackled how institutional power dynamics systematically subjugate anyone who refuses to conform. The Vacation -La Vacanza- - Tinto Brass 1971 -S...
The story follows (Vanessa Redgrave), a woman previously committed to a mental asylum after a scandalous affair with a Count. She is granted a one-month "vacation" to test her ability to reintegrate into normal society. However, the world she returns to—filled with a rejectionist family, bizarre bureaucrats, and social outcasts—is often depicted as more "insane" than the institution she left. During her journey, she meets Osiride (Franco Nero), an understanding poacher, and together they embark on a series of free-flowing, often surreal adventures that challenge societal norms. Key Highlights and Themes
In 1971, Tinto Brass was still very much an avant-garde provocateur. La Vacanza Non-linear editing:
La Vacanza represents Tinto Brass at the peak of his early, politically charged period. delivers a surrealist, anti-establishment drama that is far
The soundtrack, composed by Fiorenzo Carpi , features haunting lyrics written by actual inmates of mental institutions, heightening the film’s themes of marginalized sanity. Critical Reception and Legacy
Suggested discussion/questions for a post or screening
The Vacation - La Vacanza is not an easy watch. It demands patience and rewards it with a visceral understanding of romantic decay. Tinto Brass would go on to make louder, funnier, and more famous films, but he never again made one as raw, quiet, and genuinely sad. It is a vacation you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy—and a film you won’t easily forget. Redgrave and Nero were so passionate about the
The film centers on (played with haunting intensity by Vanessa Redgrave), a peasant woman who has been committed to a mental asylum. Her confinement stems from her position as a mistress to a local Count, who, upon returning to his wife, discards Immacolata by having her deemed "mentally disturbed".
"The Vacation" (La Vacanza) is available to stream on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Vimeo. You can also purchase a DVD or Blu-ray copy of the film on online marketplaces like Amazon.
The film's strength relies heavily on its powerhouse cast, many of whom were central figures in European arthouse cinema: La vacanza (1971) - IMDb
The story follows Immacolata (played by a brilliant Vanessa Redgrave), a woman who has spent years in a mental institution. She is granted a one-month "vacation" to reintegrate into society. However, as she moves through the world of the wealthy and the rigid structures of her own family, the film poses a biting question: Who is truly mad?
Once outside the sterile walls of the asylum, Immacolata enters a world that proves even crazier. The "vacation" begins with a triumphant return to her family . Disgusted at the thought of feeding an extra mouth, her relatives promptly sell her to the local miller Olindo like a piece of livestock.