I must have previously only seen the cut version of this and that version with some six minutes missing, clearly would have had some of its 'sting' removed. The complete film starts intriguingly enough with a young Gerard Depardieu playing amateur cat burglar with his loser pal when they stumble upon they know not what. Bulle Ogier, as the 'Maitresse' of the title soon gets rid of the loser and draws a starry eyed Depardieu into her lair. Apparently actual Parisian masochists were recruited (some say they even paid the film makers) into playing the roles we see enacted before our very eyes. Ogier is stunning in her Lagerfeld costumes and conducts her creatures most realistically while Depardieu seems to slip into the role of assistant (and lover), whipping and slapping like a real pro. This is astonishing stuff with very good dialogue and a sure hand on the directorship by Barbet Schroeder. I have to say that one scene was awesomely jaw dropping whilst another had me wincing and disappearing to the back of my chair. Having recently watched the director's, More and The Valley, this makes a sensational trio of unique films that deserve a much larger audience.