criterionforum.org

On the cusp of marriage, Liana becomes convinced she shouldn't live a life in service of a man. Instead, she leaves for Amalfi, where she embarks on an affair. From there she makes for Paris, but each new adventure is compromised by some kind of emotional constraint, culminating in a final act of tragedy. Vittorio Cottafavi's emotionally complex story exhibits the melodramatic finesse of Douglas Sirk with a style reminiscent of Max Ophuls. A remarkably modern exploration of female autonomy, A Free Woman has been newly restored by Radiance and is presented on home video for the first time outside of Italy.

BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES

2K restoration from the original negative by Radiance Films
Uncompressed mono audio
Archival interview with director Vittorio Cottafavi (1995)
Interview with Italian film expert Stephen Gundle (2026)
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Booklet featuring new writing by critic Mariangela Sansone and archival writing by filmmaker Luc Moullet
Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Knew there would be a Moullet contribution. Let’s hope this sells well enough to get more Cottafavi releases

Unfortunately in contrast to the other Cottafavis I've seen, I thought this was rather flat and shallow - nothing either artistic in its direction or interesting about any of the dynamics presented within the melodrama, starting with Françoise Christophe who gives little depth to her performance. I think the way in which her independence is 'unlocked' is in no way pronounced or believably profound or sourced in an evocative sense of ennui, and ultimately washed over as we follow her banal actions. I have no idea why it's heralded as a classic, so clearly I'm missing something. I did think it was hilarious when one character says "We're in a melodrama at its climax" in the final minutes of the film, made even funnier by the act that follows which is wholly unearned by the narrative!