Let's put it straight:the screenplay of "la red" is trite to a fault.So why is it so mesmerizing? It must be the form.Visually,it's a splendor: few directors can take advantage of the seaside landscapes as Emilio Fernandez did:think Lean' s "Ryan's daughter" or Jean Grémillon's "Remorques".Some will say that the symbolism -a breaker- is ponderous.The director was probably influenced by Bunuel for symbols abound.There's a big difference though:whereas Bunuel's obsessions often deal with sex cum religion,"la red" is thoroughly pagan.Rossanna Podesta epitomizes some kind of Goddess,of Eve before the fall .A Madonna's face but a sensual body and a false innocence :it was not surprising Robert Wise would cast her as Helen of Troy. Even more disturbing than the threatening omnipresence of the sea is the script: 75% of "la red " is devoid of any dialog.Looks and smiles tell everything (the meal is a good example) Two males and a female ,that's no good,one character says.All are caught up in "the net " (the beach ) ,a dead end.The only way to get out of this world is the sea.
