Julia (1974) Poster

(1974)

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4/10
Pretty bad soft-core sex comedy.
HumanoidOfFlesh28 April 2004
There is nothing even remotely interesting or particularly arousing in this boring piece of soft-core sex trash.The only reason to watch it is lovely Sylvia Kristel from "Emmanuelle" and "Private Lessons".The sex scenes are strictly soft-core and rather uninteresting.The last sex scene on tennis court in the rain is pretty good,though.The acting is mediocre and the film is loaded with some truly annoying and laughable characters.Sylvia Kristel provides some nudity,but there is not enough T&A for my liking."Julia" is a pretty obscure film,so if you're a fan of cheerful exploitation you may give it a look.Just don't expect something really arousing,because this film is just average.Watch Joe D'Amato's sleazy sexploitation movies or Walerian Borowczyk's erotic stuff instead.My rating:4 out of 10.
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6/10
"Good coffee with lots of cream."
morrison-dylan-fan5 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
With a German cinema and cinema of the 70's viewing challenges taking place at the same time,I decided that I would combined them together. Having picked this title up years ago (!) thanks to being interested in the mixed reaction I read for it,I got set to at last meet Julia.

View on the film:

The first film she made after becoming famous from Emmanuelle (1974), Sylvia Kristel gives a raunchy turn as Andrea, who is given by Kristel a butter wouldn't melt in her mouth innocence, which is striped away when no preying eyes are in sight, whilst Ekkehardt Belle fidgets Pauli with a awkwardness when around the ladies.

Serving up the audience what they want with a up-skirt shot within the opening minutes (good lad!), director Sigi Rothemund & cinematographer Heinz Holscher brush the glossy sensual flicks of the era with animated German Comedy, with Rothermund gliding the camera from a eyeful of a naked fittie,to a fat man running round playing tennis.

In between thrusts to the kinky frolics and bubbly romance between pure Pauli and Julia becoming passionate,Rothemund takes a unexpected turn, by involving food in every set-piece, (such a stupid waste of good cakes) which whilst not likely to all tastes, does slide in as a visual metaphor to the Pauli's family indulging in kinky antics, as Pauli secretly goes with Julia for a side dish.
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4/10
Julia won't grab you
When finally viewing this, I found the whole exercise, one straining bore. We have a girl desperate to lose her virginity (a younger Sylvia Kristel). She falls for a boy her age, also inexperienced, his dad letting his mistress giving him some pointers but ultimately failing. Seriously folks, this scenario has been done to death in so many other films, especially around 70's time. But here it's done with such uninteresting characters, you don't give two hoots about any of em'. It doesn't have much story either, the surrounds kind of bringing back the ones in Erotic Sex Games, a much better adult title, you'd have an almost nil chance of attaining. Sex hungry Kristel, so angered by her lover, holding back, becomes violent too, like clawing at his face. I couldn't stand the big haughty mistress, either. Julia isn't a film I'd watch again. I remember it as such a disappointing view, where not much happens, a limited adult film in many ways, where The Emmanuelle series is a much better pick. I honesty regretted hiring this one. Trust me, leave this one where it belongs-on the shelf.
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2/10
Pointless as expected
Horst_In_Translation4 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Es war nicht die Nachtigall" (and there are a handful more German and international/English titles for this film) is a West German German-language production from 1974, so this one is already over 40 years old. If you read the names of director Sigi Rothemund (who made this film early in his career) and late lead actress Sylvia Kristel, you already know exactly what to expect here: a mix of trash and soft-core porn while (only seemingly) supporting an important story about violence, love, romance and many more seemingly relevant aspects. It's actually really cringeworthy how this film takes itself so seriously I must say. I wish I could say that there are at least one or two quality aspects about these 85 minutes that somehow justify seeing the movie, but there are not. It's all as empty as it is pretentious and the acting is forgettable while the script is even worse. And sadly the sex scenes are also not too artistic or sensual that I would say it is at least (or only) a good watch when you are horny. It is fairly tough to say what the weakest component here is, but I guess I go with the script as this is the one that keeps together all the other components or makes them fall apart as with this one. I give this film a major thumbs-down and it is another example of how much Sigi Rothemund struggled very early in his career. Stay far far away from this one. I could not wait for it to end and if you really decide to see it, you will probably quickly feel the same.
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7/10
Sex in the '70s
ebiros228 December 2012
This might be called a West German attempt to capture the success of Emanuelle. Sylvia Krystel stars in the title role also.

'70s were the time of sexy older women who were willing to experience better sex in their lives beyond what they can get within their marriage. Success of the movie "Emanuelle" sort of gave permission to bring this concept into movie making. Julia is almost a carbon copy of the format of Emanuelle if only the backdrop wasn't so exotic.

The movie captures the atmosphere of the '70s extremely well. Everyone was looking for a sexual encounter with a sexy women which was available due to extreme physical appeal of women born in the '40s.

The movie gets it right, and it's an enjoyable look at the various situation people wished they were in during that period. The movie is made very well, and is worth the watch.
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7/10
Soft porno Violating Genre Rules
SMK-431 January 1999
One of the unwritten rules for sex films is to depict sex as something enjoyable - perhaps it is a guilty pleasure and some punishment may be afoot, but a pleasure nonetheless. Another is that a once initiated sexual encounter always goes ahead - the punters loath prickteasing.

This film dares touching these rules. The story resolves around an upper middle class family during the summer holidays. They are desperately trying to have a good time, and the emphasis is here on "desperately", because they are just not very at good at it. Sex is the only thing that overcomes their boredom, but even that rarely suffices. This lethargic lot is very hard to excite - the only time anyone got really upset was mother Hildegard when her husband's mistress told her at the family diner table that she was now sleeping with her teenage son as well.

Make no mistake: this is a softporno and nothing else, it does not have a message of any kind. But it is much less predictable than the average genre flick and that makes for much more interesting viewing.

Note: the UK release has an attempted rape scene (Pauli on Ivanna) cut, which is a bit of a shame as it explains the family's subsequent trip to Italy.
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8/10
Excellent coming-of-age romantic comedy
Falconeer19 March 2015
As a Sylvia Kristel fan, I waited years to view this obscure West German film, as the title is quite rare. But wow, was it worth the wait! This was worlds better than what I was expecting. An erotic film, that attempts the difficult mix of humor and romance...and succeeds on both counts. The story centers on the handsome young student Paulie, on holiday in the gorgeous Swiss Alps, and on a mission to leave his innocence behind, and to become a man. Surrounded by decadent, beautiful older women, but the lovely Andrea (Sylvia Kristel) is the girl that truly captures his heart. Betrayed by a close friend, and later by his own self indulgent prick of a father, Paulie becomes more confused and angry about his situation.

"Julia," titled after the character Juliet, of Shakespeare fame, covers all the bases of coming of age drama; betrayal, sexual frustration, loss of innocence, and both the joy, and sadness that can come from the first sexual experience. Nice surreal touches are included here as well, especially when it focuses on this kid's off-the-wall, wacko family! My side hurt from laughing so much at the absurd situations and predicaments these people find themselves in.

I have to say, I absolutely love this film, the story, the characters/the gorgeous cast, the pretty cinematography and the wonderful artistic touches etc, and especially the bizarre comedic elements which made this a fun experience. There are some powerful emotional scenes too, that I was not expecting, such as the "love" scene filmed inside the Colosseum in Rome! That was heartbreaking, and awful..a betrayal that nobody should ever have to endure. I'm happy to find this gem, and look forward to showing it to friends. Highly recommended..
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American version was called Julia
NC1700a6 July 2002
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Have seen this film, American version called 'Julia' . Directed by Wolfgang Bauer. Story - college kid ( Ekkehardt Belle) visits dad (Jean Claude Bouillon) for the summer break, meets dad's girlfriend (Terry Torday). Gets together with childhood friends; one being Sylvia Kristel ( Julia ) and family. A boating accident effects the kid ( stays in his room ). Father thinks going to city will help his son get out. Father gets his girl. Kid gets father's girl. What more can be said. 1978, german film shows nudity that would have a rating of 'R' today.
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