The Duke of Burgundy

Shooting with exquisite, painterly beauty subject matter that others might deem sordid (and/or a Fifty Shades of Grey rip-off), filmmaker Peter Strickland's edgy feature is—according to the director—an homage to the more poetic and dreamlike elements of "Euro-sleaze" exploitation cinema of the 1960s and ‘70s, especially the works of the infamous Jess Franco. Here, two lesbians role-play an S&M relationship at the ivy-overgrown fairy-tale mansion of the dominant Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen), a prosperous entomologist who has rooms full of mounted butterflies and moths. Submissive Evelyn (Chiara D'Anna) is repeatedly and ritually humiliated by her mistress, yet thrives from the experience. The Duke of Burgundy doesn't offer much of a plot, but is more of an atmospheric mood piece that—while hinting at much kink—manages to convey its sensuality mostly through erotic foot- and back-massages. Recommended. (C. Cassady)