Devil in the Flesh

A bored Italian high school student becomes fixated on a woman he watches from his classroom window. She is pulled into a legal ordeal, often appearing at court hearings where she shows support for a fiancé detained for his involvement with a radical political group. Initially she rejects the student's youthful advances, then succumbs to an affair that is clandestine, intense, and increasingly difficult to contain. Gossip spreads at school and pressure mounts at home as their families denounce the liaison. Complicating matters, the young man's father is the woman's psychologist, a fact that introduces awkward professional and moral questions. The film follows the escalating tension without revealing its final outcome. Several scenes emphasize the clash between desire and duty.

Released in 1986, Devil in the Flesh was directed by Marco Bellocchio and adapted from Raymond Radiguet's novel, with screenplay contributions from Enrico Palandri and Ennio De Concini. It stars Maruschka Detmers alongside Federico Pitzalis in central roles in Italy.

Concrete box office totals are not widely documented, and the film did not register as a major international hit. It found a larger audience through art house screenings and discussion in European cinematic circles, rather than blockbuster-style ticket sales abroad.

The film provoked debate in Italy over its frank depiction of a sexual relationship that crossed social and age boundaries, and it prompted discussion about ethical lines when a therapist is personally involved. Over time it has remained a provocative, often cited example of Bellocchio's willingness to tackle moral topics.

Critical reaction was mixed, reflected in a 5.6 out of 10 average from viewers. Critics acknowledged strong performances and a striking relationship, while debating the film's moral ambiguity and the uneasy overlap of personal desire, political context, and professional ethics embodied by the father's role as psychologist and societal repercussions.