However, not everyone was charmed by Brass's erotic vision. A review on CinemaParadiso.co.uk gave the film a scathing one-star rating, calling it a "Waste of a disk!" The reviewer accused Tinto Brass of being on a "self indulgent ego trip, almost demanding we be amazed and impressed," and concluded that "watching paint dry is only marginally less erotic than this". This sharp dichotomy between "poetic realism" and "tiresome ego trip" is perhaps the most telling sign of the film's artistry—it is a work that demands a specific patience and willingness to embrace a narrative that feels more like a waking dream than a plot-driven story.
The title explicitly states "Part 1." This was Brass’s attempt to create a franchise—a series of standalone vignettes named after different women (e.g., Partenope , Giulia ). However, commercial distribution in the late 90s was fragmented. While Julia performed reasonably well in Japan and France, the English-speaking market largely ignored it.
The story is a confrontation between natural, sensual life and the repressive routines of conventional society. However, not everyone was charmed by Brass's erotic vision
The final segment, directed by Francesco Dominedò, is the most explicitly fetishistic. Described as an "erotic soliloquy," it features a personal performance by actress Fiorella Rubino. Lying on a bathroom floor, the character follows a series of kinky instructions from her absent lover, which include shaving her pubic hair with a straight razor, wearing a wet white shirt, kneeling in the shower, and licking milk from a plate.
From the period-specific fashion of the late 90s to the classical Italian architecture, the film feels like a "moving postcard" of eroticism. Why It Remains a Cult Classic The title explicitly states "Part 1
Critical response to Julia and the series as a whole has been a clear case of love-it-or-hate-it.
Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia - TMDB The story is a confrontation between natural, sensual
★★★★☆ (4/5 – For fans of artistic erotica) Where to find it: Currently available on Blu-ray via Cult Epics (Region Free) and select streaming services (uncut version).
: The conflict isn't just physical; it's internal. Characters often battle their own fears or past traumas.
Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia - CSFD
Each "Part" was essentially a compilation of three of these short films. For instance, Part 2 included Voyeur , Blessed Transgression , and Quattro . The subject matters of these shorts were diverse, ranging from an impotent husband (Part 3) to stories of homosexuality, orgies, and threesomes.
However, not everyone was charmed by Brass's erotic vision. A review on CinemaParadiso.co.uk gave the film a scathing one-star rating, calling it a "Waste of a disk!" The reviewer accused Tinto Brass of being on a "self indulgent ego trip, almost demanding we be amazed and impressed," and concluded that "watching paint dry is only marginally less erotic than this". This sharp dichotomy between "poetic realism" and "tiresome ego trip" is perhaps the most telling sign of the film's artistry—it is a work that demands a specific patience and willingness to embrace a narrative that feels more like a waking dream than a plot-driven story.
The title explicitly states "Part 1." This was Brass’s attempt to create a franchise—a series of standalone vignettes named after different women (e.g., Partenope , Giulia ). However, commercial distribution in the late 90s was fragmented. While Julia performed reasonably well in Japan and France, the English-speaking market largely ignored it.
The story is a confrontation between natural, sensual life and the repressive routines of conventional society.
The final segment, directed by Francesco Dominedò, is the most explicitly fetishistic. Described as an "erotic soliloquy," it features a personal performance by actress Fiorella Rubino. Lying on a bathroom floor, the character follows a series of kinky instructions from her absent lover, which include shaving her pubic hair with a straight razor, wearing a wet white shirt, kneeling in the shower, and licking milk from a plate.
From the period-specific fashion of the late 90s to the classical Italian architecture, the film feels like a "moving postcard" of eroticism. Why It Remains a Cult Classic
Critical response to Julia and the series as a whole has been a clear case of love-it-or-hate-it.
Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia - TMDB
★★★★☆ (4/5 – For fans of artistic erotica) Where to find it: Currently available on Blu-ray via Cult Epics (Region Free) and select streaming services (uncut version).
: The conflict isn't just physical; it's internal. Characters often battle their own fears or past traumas.
Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia - CSFD
Each "Part" was essentially a compilation of three of these short films. For instance, Part 2 included Voyeur , Blessed Transgression , and Quattro . The subject matters of these shorts were diverse, ranging from an impotent husband (Part 3) to stories of homosexuality, orgies, and threesomes.