The Ape Woman

The Ape Woman, directed by Marco Ferreri, is an engaging Italian-French drama film released in 1964. The performances of Ugo Tognazzi, Annie Girardot, and Achille Majeroni make this film a thought-provoking spectacle layered with intricate themes of exploitation, human dignity, and the struggle for survival in a fiercely competitive world.

Standing at the center of the narrative is Ugo Tognazzi playing the role of Antonio Focaccia, a shrewd business-minded man with a sharp eye for unusual opportunities. His path crosses with the character of Maria (played by Annie Girardot), a vulnerable woman suffering from a rare condition causing excessive hair growth all over her body. Girardot brilliantly portrays the character's mental agony and physical embarrassments inflicted by her unique appearance, delivering an emotionally piercing performance that leaves the audience immersed and sympathetic.

Antonio, intrigued by Maria's rare condition, casts aside his qualms about exploiting her predicament for personal gain. He persuades Maria to be showcased as an 'ape woman' and takes her on a Europe-wide tour presenting her as a scientific oddity to the public. This 'freak show' becomes a massive hit, drawing in large crowds and garnering significant media attention. However, as Antonio's ambitions continue to grow, so does his moral decay, often in shocking proportions.

Annie Girardot and Ugo Tognazzi's on-screen chemistry adeptly capture their characters' complex association teetering between a love interest and exploitation. Antonio seems to balance precariously on the fine line of being Maria's manager, lover, and captor. Girardot's portrayal as Maria effortlessly captures the anguish and humiliation behind the forced presentation of her 'freakishness,' which becomes increasingly intolerable as Antonio milks her circumstance for every penny it's worth.

The film also includes the character of Professor Mondini, played by Achille Majeroni, who adds an additional dimension to the story. As a supposed 'scientist' who gets involved in exploiting Maria's condition, the professor becomes symbolic of the manipulation of science and knowledge for unscrupulous ends. Despite his initial hesitations, he also succumbs to the lure of profit and fame. His contribution to the film furthers the exploration of the debate about human dignity versus monetary gain, and the impact of societal conditioning on personal choices and attitudes.

The Ape Woman is a dramatic critique of societal norms and convincingly challenges the implications of commercialization, public fascination with the 'abnormal,' and how the vulnerable can be exploited for personal gain. The entire narrative pivots around a distraught woman caught up in circuits of voyeurism and exploitation yet seeking to affirm her identity and dignity.

The scenic European settings and precisely constructed set pieces do much to embellish the storyline with their visual appeal. The film also presents an outstanding and meticulously crafted screenplay, complimented thoroughly by carefully chosen dialogues that add depth to the characters and heighten the narrative's intensity. The camera work, intriguing angles, and carefully selected color palette also work together to reinforce an aura ranging from the melancholic to the mystic - thereby echoing perfectly with the film's overall direction and themes.

The Ape Woman can be seen as a tragic love story and as a stark portrayal of human exploitation and the selfish pursuit of financial gain. It is a piece that questions societal norms, human morality, and the pain of being trapped in a reality that seems to rob an individual of their dignity and self-worth. Considering the film's depth, commentary on society, and its emotional breadth, it's easy to see why it remains a relevant cinematic masterpiece to this day.