Swept Away (1974) 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Clash of Classes on the Mediterranean 

Lina Wertmüller’s Swept Away (1974) is a biting satire of social hierarchy, wrapped in the sun-soaked trappings of a Mediterranean adventure. The film pits Giancarlo Giannini’s Gennarino, a brash communist deckhand, against Mariangela Melato’s Raffaella, a haughty capitalist socialite, aboard a luxury yacht. Their initial exchanges crackle with hostility: Raffaella flaunts her privilege, deriding leftist politics, while Gennarino swallows his rage to keep his job. Wertmüller sharpens these ideological swords with dark humor, foreshadowing the chaos to come when a botched dinghy trip strands them at sea. 

Stranded in Ideology 

Marooned on a barren island, the pair’s survival hinges on shedding societal masks. Raffaella’s entitled demands crumble as Gennarino, now the provider, weaponizes his practical skills. The power inversion is visceral—he forces her to wash his clothes, slaps her into submission, and nearly rapes her before opting for psychological domination. Wertmüller doesn’t romanticize this shift; instead, she exposes the ugliness of both characters’ extremes. Gennarino’s misogyny undermines his proletarian ideals, while Raffaella’s vulnerability reveals her classist armor as hollow. Their toxic dance becomes a microcosm of systemic dysfunction, where neither ideology offers moral high ground. 

Power Reversed, Passion Unleashed

Paradoxically, the island’s lawlessness births a twisted intimacy. Raffaella’s submission evolves into genuine desire, culminating in a passionate, consensual affair. Giannini and Melato electrify these scenes—he oscillates between tenderness and tyranny; she melts from ice queen to devoted lover. Their chemistry, charged with eroticism and danger, underscores Wertmüller’s critique of how power corrupts even personal relationships. The island, initially a prison, becomes a perverse Eden where roles are fluid but never equitable. 

The Bitter Return to Reality 

Rescue shatters their fragile dynamic. Back in civilization, Raffaella retreats into her opulent world, dismissing Gennarino as a fleeting rebellion. His desperate plea to escape with her—abandoning his family for a romantic fantasy—meets cold rejection. The final scenes gut-punch: Gennarino, defeated, trudges behind his vengeful wife, while Raffaella departs by helicopter, literally and metaphorically soaring above him. Wertmüller offers no redemption, only the grim truth that class structures are prisons no individual can escape. 

Wertmüller’s Enduring Critique

Decades later, Swept Away remains a polarizing masterpiece. Its unflinching portrayal of sexual politics and class warfare divided critics, yet its National Board of Review win affirmed its audacity. The 2002 remake, a tonally confused misfire, only highlights the original’s daring. Wertmüller’s lens—acerbic, provocative, and unapologetically feminist—challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about power, desire, and the myths of ideological purity. Giannini and Melato’s volcanic performances ensure the film’s combustible energy never dims, cementing its status as a daring, discomforting classic.

The Video

The 4K restoration of Swept Away was completed by Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, in collaboration with Minerva Pictures and Mediaset, using the original negatives. The restoration was undertaken at L’Immagine Ritrovata in 2024. It is available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from Raro Video in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) SDR encoding. The accompanying AVC 1080p Blu-ray is sourced from the same 4K restoration.

While the absence of HDR is not significantly noticeable in this release, additional dynamic range could have enhanced the viewing experience. Nevertheless, the image exhibits a rich array of colors and contrasts. Vibrant primaries such as cerulean blues of the sea and canary yellows are evident, and flesh tones appear warm. This film retains its grainy texture, which has been preserved and appears natural and crisp. On the Blu-ray Disc, the grain remains present but is less resolved, resulting in a slightly softer image and a more diffuse grain structure; however, the color fidelity remains consistent.

The Audio

The original Italian mono and English dub are included in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Both soundtracks sound well enough with good clarity and enough dynamic range.

The Supplements

Sticking with the feminist leanings of the film, this release comes with two audio commentaries by women, the first Sam Deighan and the second by Valerio Ruiz, director of the Lina Wertmüller documentary Behind the White Glasses. There is also an interview with veteran female filmmaker Amy Heckerling.

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Sam Deighan
• Audio Commentary by Valerio Ruiz, director of the Lina Wertmüller documentary Behind the White Glasses
• Interview with Director Amy Heckerling (1080p; 00:08:46)
• Trailers:
  • Fernando and Carolina Original Theatrical Trailer (SD; 00:01:14)
  • Swept Away Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 00:03:00)
  • Swept Away Re-Release Trailer (1080p; 00:02:31)
  • Summer Night Original Theatrical Trailer (SD; 00:02:19)
  • Summer Night U.S. Trailer (SD; 00:01:51)

The Final Assessment

I first saw Swept Away late night on the local PBS station when I was a teenager in the 1980s. This was back when PBS was still “PBS” – the film ran completely uncensored, and it captured my attention. It was probably one of my earliest introductions to film as an artform rather than simple entertainment. All these years later, the film still holds up and I also understand its layers far better. It comes to 4K looking splendid, as it deserves. Highly recommended.

Swept Away is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray April 29, 2025 from Raro Video

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: Medusa Distribuzione | Raro Video | Kino Lorber
• Director: Lina Wertmüller
• Written By: Lina Wertmüller
• Run Time: 114 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: SDR
• Primary Audio: Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
• Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
• Subtitles: English
• Street Date: 29 April 2025