Sapho ou La fureur d'aimer

It was possibly novel in the early seventies to have a heroine who was free-spirited, who pursued men for the pleasure of brief affairs or even one-night-stands. In this case she is known as Sapho and, as she is not only given full reign by her wealthy 'protector', but is played by the gorgeous Marina Vlady, it's no surprise that she normally achieves her aim. So far so good – although there is still a large degree of coyness about the sex scenes – but it all begins to fall apart and descend into a very average story when she meets her match. After a night of passion with diplomat Lionel de Lancey (Renaud Verley), she realises that she has fallen in love. From that moment on, the original premise of the film appears to be lost. Her lover is already due to marry a more suitable bride who has been chosen and approved by his father, and Sapho has to decide if she is unselfish enough to allow his future success at the possible expense of her own. To call it 'average' would be to praise it a bit too highly.