When Love Is Lust is a French-Italian drama film that was released in 1973. Directed by Jean-Marie Pallardy, the film revolves around the complicated relationships between a wealthy countess, her daughter, and her daughter's husband.
The countess, played by Françoise Prévost, is a woman of extravagant tastes who is obsessed with maintaining her social status. She arranges a marriage between her daughter, played by Agostina Belli, and a wealthy butcher in order to secure her financial future. However, her daughter is shy and inexperienced, and their marriage quickly becomes troubled due to her sexual inhibitions.
Unable to cope with the pressure of her new life, the daughter leaves her husband and seeks refuge with her sister. Meanwhile, the husband finds comfort in the arms of his mother-in-law. The relationship between the mother and son-in-law soon becomes sexual, and they begin an affair behind the daughter's back.
As the story unfolds, the characters' dark desires and hidden secrets are gradually exposed, leading to a dramatic and tragic conclusion. When Love Is Lust was controversial upon its release due to its explicit sexual content and incestuous themes. However, it remains a significant film in the genre of European arthouse cinema.
