Obviously, Casavaro is not the kind of person you understand.
As the most famous prodigal son in Europe, it is his instinct and his own business to walk among noblewomen, nuns, and daughters of gold. He could compete with any of the most sexually capable men in Europe, and he was ridiculed as a "stall" everywhere. But he always wanted others to call him a "philosopher". He believes that he has outstanding political talent and can assist any monarch in Europe to achieve great things--but unfortunately, underappreciated talent is the fate of his life.
In an age where the mind is more important than the body, it is unfortunate to have a body; and in an age where the body is valued, it is still unfortunate to have a body. This is because no one really puts the body above the "spirit". Even if people's requirements for the body are open and without scruples, they can't hide the huge fear of the loss of the "soul".
In people's minds, Casavaro is a perverted person. His body conquered women all over Europe, but his soul could not arouse the respect of even a groom. The nobles treated him like a gladiator, as a "sex fighter", as a horse. Nobles are happy to provide the best environment for their enjoyment, and their purpose is no more than to satisfy their needs for sensory stimulation. Casavaro, at its highest status, is nothing more than a performer of sexual ability and skill.
At the beginning of the film, Casavalo goes to a nun's appointment and goes to an isolated island. When he learned that it was all just to satisfy the lust of the ambassador prying behind the fish-eye, he was still very happy. He is willing to use this as a promotion plan. In his view, the body is a kind of capital, a means of communication. This method can allow him to capture the hearts of any woman, then he will certainly be able to impress those in power, and thus realize what a great soul lies beneath such a powerful body. But - when Casavaro made a statement to the ambassador, the ambassador disappeared from behind the fish eyes. Disappeared so neatly that Casavaro didn't have time to bow and say goodbye.
This beginning is the fate of Casavaro. Politics, for men, is spirit. It is the movement of the eternal Spirit. It's part of a grand narrative. This system can completely ignore the body, or even completely exclude the body. So until Casavaro's later years, the system still hated him so much, seeing this pretentious old man as a social outlier, even a scum.
It's not that Casavaro didn't think about death. Especially after he was disillusioned in love and deceived by a mother and daughter (even women betrayed him). But he was attracted by a giantess and survived. He knew that the burning of his life was not over, because there were stronger women who were not conquered. This subjugation of women is an instinct. Instinct is the greatest driving force for the "transcendence" beyond death. This instinct allows him to speak of the superiority of women over men, but only because he wants the power of the object his power to confirm in turn to confirm his own power.
Casavalo's last lover, and the last lover he recalled before his death, was a puppet lady. Casavaro finally found a woman who wouldn't abandon him. Those ladies were physically conquered by him, but they always regarded him as the object of his control. Only this puppet is a person who is completely obedient to him. Puppets are ruthless, but they become sentient because of the ruthlessness of people.
Casavaro in a dream returned to his hometown, Venice, which he had never dared to return to because of a crime. This European water capital, this most prosperous town in Europe, this dreamy area full of all kinds of strange customs and characters, gave Casavalo the ultimate consolation.
Casavaro is not the kind of guy you understand. Because he is unwilling to admit the fact that he is understood. This fact is stubborn in the heart of this legend, and will continue on many people's body ————
PS: This film has a remake version in 2005———— Slump +++
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