SS Girls

In the diverse landscape of 1970s cinema, the film SS Girls stands as an overtly controversial and eyebrow-raising spectacle. Released in 1977, directed by Bruno Mattei, and featuring the notable performances of Gabriele Carrara, Marina Daunia, and Macha Magall, this Italian exploitation film stands at the intersection of war, sexual deviancy, and political commentary. Delving into the darkest aspects of sociology, the movie assesses the twisted facets of human nature, particularly in times of war.

SS Girls is set during World War II, amidst the stark brutality of the Nazi regime. The narrative, while labyrinthine in its exploration of grotesque human compulsions, revolves around the infamous SS — the paramilitary organization under Hitler's Third Reich. This military backdrop shapes the main plotline which introduces us to Major Starker, a character replete with carnal passions, portrayed impeccably by Gabriele Carrara. His portrayal of Starker weaves the base premise of the plot, whereupon his character is entrusted with a curious mission by the Council of the Third Reich.

Their mandate is nothing less than designing a brothel specifically to cater to the elite officers of the Reich. However, Starker's task is not merely to manage a hostile; his job extends to conducting experiments that are both physical and psychological on ten women. The designated women mandatorily have to come from the Aryan gene pool, and their selection process forms a significant chunk of the narrative.

Marina Daunia plays the role of one of these selected women. Her character provides the audience with an intimate perspective of the harrowing experiences they face. With ten diverse characters to tackle, Daunia's performance underscores the chilling reality of the human commodification within this surreal setup. Retaining her empathy amidst the cruel acts she has to perform, Daunia introduces an element of moral struggle to the narrative.

The filling in of the antagonist’s role, the sinister Madame Eva, is brought alive by Macha Magall. With an unfaltering eEevil streak, Eva is a sadistic trainer, whose character overarches the entire plot with her perverse machinations. Commanding various tasks of debauchery, Magall’s exceptional portrayal of this character is both chilling and thought-provoking, thereby enhancing the movie's grim undertones.

SS Girls is a daring film, choosing a theme that would shock many viewers. The narrative courses through graphic instances and uncomfortable scenarios, aiming to bare the crimson underbelly of power and debauchery inherent in war-torn landscapes. Even through the largely erotic narrative, the plot retains its strong critique of authority figures leveraging their power to meet their perverse desires. The film is not for the faint-hearted, evident from the explicit content and unsettling themes that it audaciously flaunts.

Despite its hardcore narrative, SS Girls does manage to infuse elements of humor and campy aesthetics. This blend brings about a peculiar cinematic experience, a mix of bleak satire interwoven with dark comedy. A perfect example of this is the overzealous presence of theoretical Aryan ideals that the Reich obsesses over. These ideals are illustrated in ways meant to elicit reactions that range from shock to unwitting mirth. The film’s tendency to stretch the boundaries of traditional narrative and content are evident from such absurd elements.

The mise-en-scène, despite being mostly indoors, is consistent with the atmosphere of oppression and lust that the narrative calls for. This includes stark, dreary settings alternating with flamboyant bedrooms that act as the playground of carnal desires. Coupled with this, the film boasts a seductive score, boasting a lurid combination of classical and contemporary musical elements. The cinematic trappings of SS Girls traverse the boundaries of conventional cinema, ensuring the narrative stays true to its controversial roots.

While SS Girls may be hard to digest for some viewers, its unique traits allow it to stand out from its contemporaries. Flirting with its grim theme of prostitution, lust, and power, it undeniably treads a path less taken by other war films of its time. Featuring some stellar performances and a rather provocatively engaging story, SS Girls is a film that is remembered for its audacity and absurdity. Its place in cinema history remains cemented as a cinematic slice of the Nazis' depredations, as it daringly unearths war's unspeakable horrors.