This extraordinary film has been sadly misunderstood by many for a simple reason: it is an erotic film that doesn't intend to turn you on. Rather, it is a display of sexual transgression throughout the ages told in reverse order. Each of the four chapters of Immoral Tales takes place further back in history, with the acts committed getting increasingly transgressive. The first is modern, containing semi-consensual sex between a cruel boy and his cousin. The second features religious-fixated masturbation and rape, the third lesbianism and murder, the fourth is an incestuous story of the Pope containing torture and murder, along with threesome sex. The final scene of the film is the baptism of the child of the Pope and his daughter: the androgynous baby is bathed in a radiant light as it stares into the camera, reminding us that the felonies of the fathers lead through the ages to bring about our sexual misdemeanors. Although Im. Tales is quite explicit (but still softcore, Borowczyk only did a little hardcore work) and may be arousing, but is hardly a skin flick. The compositions are too painterly (Borowczyk was a successful painter and animator before turning to film), the action too slow and morally ambiguous to get too worked up over without intellectual involvement. Borowczyk is my favorite European erotic filmmaker, and equal to Radley Metzger from a global standpoint. Contes Immoraux (Im. Tales) and Le Bete (the Beast) are his most accessible films, and a great starting point. My personal favorite is his version of Dr. Jekyll, which goes by several titles. Watch this film if you want to think about sex and your relation to the subject, not if you are just looking for a good item for foreplay.
Review of Immoral Tales
