DVD The King's Mistress

While Jeanne exerts her power in her own ways, she becomes embittered and hardened. Amadeo is a brutal rapist and over time Jeanne comes to care for her evil and debauched captor (a classic case of Stockholm syndrome). Amadeo's obsessive love was evil, disturbing and all-consuming.

While I enjoyed this movie, I felt sorry for Jeanne. She literally had no choice in her relationship. I had no sympathy for Amadeo who was evil and corrupt.

I also was rather surprised that this movie was recommended as a 'love story.' A decent lover would never rape his mistress, or beat her. While this may be historically accurate, it is by no means romantic, and was in fact, quite off-putting. (Frankly I wish I'd been forewarned I would have avoided this altogether).

Recommend for adults only due to suggestive scenes, nudity, violence, domestic violence and rape.

Valeria is totally devoted to her husband, yet the King has an obsession with her and makes it quite public where even the pregnant Valeria is taken from the midst of a service to be told by the priests that her future sins for allowing the King to covet her are already forgiven. Afterall, the King is ill with lustful thoughts that only she can cure, and Valeria must serve her King. At first, we shake our heads at the King for actually wanting what he can't have, but he makes it clear he will not force her. "You will come to me willingly," he tells her. Everyone, including her husband, beg her to submit so they can all get on with their lives at her expense. And when she does, she certainly "helps" them to get on with their lives.

If the film fails, I'd have to say I can't recall a period film where the King takes orders so nonchanantly and easily, instead of dishing them out. But then again, love makes you do crazy stuff. Though a weak King, we get a sense of his soft heart. Loyal to his true love through infectious sickness and in health, you can't help but be incredibly jealous of Valeria. I mean, who wouldn't want a man like that. But will she continue to hate him with a passion and forever try her darnest to remain as cold as ice, and to escape his bed?

Definitely worth the money, but don't expect steamy sex. In fact, there's hardly any, yet the anticipation is quite a handful. One look in both their eyes and you can feel their emotions, whether it be love or scorn. The DVD cover is quite attractive and reminds me of "Boxing Helena", another film with a dominant theme of obsessive love. I give it four stars. Take away half for the King being too weak at times, publicly.