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Seduction: The Cruel Woman (Verführung: Die grausame Frau) is a 1985 West German film, directed by Elfi Mikesch and Monika Treut, who both also wrote the screenplay. Wanda is played by Mechthild Großmann. The film was inspired by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs.
Synopsis
Wanda is a dominatrix who runs a gallery in Hamburg. She lures men and women of all types into her sadomasochistic world where audiences pay for the privilege of seeing her humiliate her slaves. The end is an ultimate mix of eros and thanatos.
And when she is eventually gunned down, not by her American female lover whom she turns into an assistant-Mistress and not by her older tender shoe-fetishist motherly concerned lover either, but by – of all people – her husband (who is also her slave), the supreme joy on her face is absolutely ineffable.
Cast
Mechthild Großmann as Wanda
Udo Kier as Gregor
Sheila McLaughlin as Justine
Carola Regnier as Caren
Peter Weibel as Herr Maehrsch, Journalist
Georgette Dee as Friederike
Barbara Ossenkopp: Leila
Daniela Ziegler: Mother
Film Festivals
The movie was shown at the following film festivals, among others:
1985 Berlin International Film Festival, Forum
1985 San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
See also
Sadism and masochism in fiction
References
External links
Official website
Seduction: The Cruel Woman at IMDb
