The story of the making of this film is fascinating and actually more interesting than what is on screen - though it is an interesting movie. It has a fantastic premise which could have been used for exploitation as well as art house - I'm surprised no one has remade this. Or done a play/film about the making of it.
The pubic went, apparently because of nudity and some lesbianism, but maybe the public also liked a female driven story with sex and violence. It misses dramatic moments wholesale - all the elements are there, the characters, the sources of conflict (an aristocrat woman and her fiancee, conflicts within the women, a rivalry with nearby men) but it's not shaped. Scenes which should have real wallop such as the death of one young girl and the revenge of the women feel rushed over. I think Tom Cowan was better at mood and atmosphere than drama.
Some moments are very effective such as the British officer seeing his finacee running covered in mud naked in the bush. I admit I may feel that way about that scene because it involves a man.
A bold, fascinating movie that for me doesn't quite come off but is arresting.
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