“Immoral Tales” is a daring and audacious anthology film written and directed by visionary filmmaker Walerian Borowczyk in 1973. It weaves four stories, each exploring provocative passion, desire, and transgression themes.
After Immoral Tales was released, Borowczyk began to fall out of favor with film critics. However, it has maintained a cult following over the years.
The film is a combination of four short stories. The first story involves André (Fabrice Luchini), obsessed with the tide’s relationship with the moon; he takes his 16-year-old cousin (played by Lise Danvers) on a day trip to the beach to perform fellatio on him in tune with the waves of the incoming tide.
The following story is titled ‘Thérése the Philosopher,’ an adaptation of the novel by the same name.
The story involves a teenage girl (Charlotte Alexandra) who combines her sexual desires in her imagination with her dedication to Christ. The third story is about a countess named Elizabeth Báthory (Paloma Picasso) who murders young girls to gain eternal youth by bathing in their blood. And the final story involves the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, Lucrezia Borgia (Florence Bellamy), who has sexual relations with all her male relatives.
“Immoral Tales” delves into the complexities of human sexuality and the pursuit of forbidden pleasures. It poses questions about the nature of human sexuality and the often contradictory relationship between passion, morality, and personal freedom. “Immoral Tales” embarks on a provocative journey into the depths of human desire and the blurred lines between the sacred and the profane.
There were five stories initially, but one was omitted and developed into a feature film called “The Beast.” – More on that film in due course.
The Other Cinema 