Product: Day of the Woman (1978)
Rating: 4.0
A film with some merits
I first saw this in 1984 as a teenager. The video tape was probably the cut version. It left an impression on me because of the awful scenes, but I remember thinking how brilliant Camille Keaton was in her role as the victim. Very convincing. Seeing the uncut DVD version recently, as an adult, I still find the film disturbing but not in the way so many do. It is often referred to as the video nasty, brutal and disgusting. Released back in 1978, the film did poorly at the box office until they renamed it to "I spit on your grave". One has to feel that the new title helped push the movie to being banned. It drew so much attention to it. By today's standards, and if you compare it to a film such as 2003's "Irreversible", the film isn't as difficult to sit through as some would have you believe. Yes, the rape scenes are awful, but look beyond that, and the film does have other key merits like the brilliant acting from Camille, beautiful cinematography, and the tension building scenes.What happens in this film, unfortunately, occurs in real life over and over. The Director made the film after helping a lady who had been raped and saw her crawling out of the bushes. The film was his way of getting back at her victims.Look beyond the rape scenes, and you will see a film of courage and revenge. The fact that so many people talk about this film indicates that the Director has succeeded in his mission. To remind us of the nastiness that goes on in this world, and that we should fight it.Definitely worth a viewing.