Passionate Summer (1956)
A French-Italian drama of desire and rivalry, set on a remote mountain farm where one man's arrival changes everything.
Passionate Summer - Movie Information
- Original Title: Les possédées
- Release Year: 1956
- Directed by: Charles Brabant
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 30, 1956 (France)
- Alternative Titles: The Possessed (AU), L'isola delle donne sole (IT)
- Production Countries: France, Italy
Passionate Summer - Plot
Agata, her daughter Silvia and sister-in-law Pia run a farm lost in the mountains. The hiring of Angelo, an attractive forty-something, will provoke confrontations and rivalries between the three women.
Where to Watch Passionate Summer
Looking for where to watch Passionate Summer?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Passionate Summer - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Charles Brabant
Main Cast
- Madeleine Robinson
- Raf Vallone
- Magali Noël
- Dany Carrel
- Paul Faivre
- Danik Patisson
Writers
- Charles Brabant
- Maurice Clavel
Producers
- Edmond Ténoudji
Passionate Summer - FAQs
What is Passionate Summer about?
Passionate Summer follows Agata, her daughter Silvia, and sister-in-law Pia, who run a remote mountain farm together. When they hire Angelo, a magnetic forty-something farmhand, long-simmering tensions rise to the surface as all three women find themselves drawn to him, unleashing jealousy, desire, and conflict.
Who are the main actors in Passionate Summer?
The film stars Madeleine Robinson as the matriarch Agatha, Raf Vallone as the alluring Angelo, Magali Noël as Pia, and Dany Carrel as young Sylvia. Paul Faivre and Danik Patisson round out the cast in supporting roles.
Who directed Passionate Summer and who wrote it?
Charles Brabant directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay alongside philosopher and author Maurice Clavel. It was a Franco-Italian co-production released in May 1956, with cinematography by Edmond Séchan lending the mountain setting a striking visual atmosphere.
Is Passionate Summer based on a true story or a novel?
Passionate Summer is not based on a true story. The screenplay was written by director Charles Brabant and Maurice Clavel as an original dramatic work, though its themes of rural isolation, desire, and female rivalry echo literary traditions found in French and Italian post-war drama.
What is the original French title of this film?
The film's original French title is Les possédées, which translates roughly to “The Possessed.” It was also released under the Italian title L'isola delle donne sole and is known as The Possessed in Australia.
When and where was Passionate Summer released?
Passionate Summer premiered in France on May 30, 1956. It was a co-production between France and Italy, reflecting the close cinematic collaboration between the two countries that was common during that era of European filmmaking.
What films are similar to Passionate Summer?
If you enjoy Passionate Summer's blend of rural drama and simmering human conflict, you might also appreciate The Beasts (2022), Time of the Wolf (2003), The Girl from Paris (2001), Bloody Milk (2017), and Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) — all films that explore tension and desire in isolated or pastoral settings.
How long is Passionate Summer?
Passionate Summer runs for 90 minutes — a tight, focused runtime that suits its intimate chamber drama structure, keeping the tension between its small cast of characters taut from beginning to end.
More About Passionate Summer
Explore further details about this film on these authoritative resources.