🎬 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑨𝒈𝒆 (1975)

👉Full movie at end of the post

That Malicious Age (1975), also known as Quella età maliziosa, is an Italian erotic drama that explores themes of obsession, temptation, and forbidden desire. The story follows Napoleone, a middle-aged man who accepts a job as a gardener for a wealthy family on a remote coastal estate. Seeking peace and solitude, he hopes to escape his complicated past and start anew in a quiet, scenic environment. However, his plans are quickly disrupted when he meets Gloria, the teenage daughter of his employer.

Gloria is beautiful, bold, and mischievous, and she quickly becomes fascinated with Napoleone. Though he initially tries to keep a respectful distance, her increasingly provocative behavior begins to test his moral boundaries. Their interactions grow more intense, and the line between innocent flirtation and dangerous seduction begins to blur. The idyllic setting becomes charged with tension, as Gloria's games slowly unravel Napoleone’s self-control.

As the summer progresses, Napoleone finds himself caught in a web of emotional confusion and desire. Gloria's youthful defiance contrasts with her mother’s more refined and enigmatic presence, creating a complex dynamic between the characters. The film dives into the psychological conflict Napoleone experiences — torn between temptation and the fear of moral and social consequences. The atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic as the emotional stakes rise.

Director Silvio Amadio uses dreamy cinematography and symbolic visuals to explore the tension between innocence and corruption, age and youth, restraint and indulgence. The film is as much a character study as it is a provocative tale, revealing the internal struggle of a man facing his darker impulses in the face of beauty and rebellion. Gloria's behavior, while playful, reveals deeper layers of manipulation and emotional turmoil.

In the end, That Malicious Age leaves viewers questioning who truly held the power in the relationship and whether Napoleone was a victim of seduction or of his own unresolved desires. The film is a haunting and provocative reflection on forbidden attraction and the emotional consequences that come with crossing moral lines. It lingers in ambiguity, challenging the viewer to interpret the true nature of the characters and their choices.