The Belt
La cintura
Synopsis
Vittorio, an American novelist teaching in Rome, meets the beautiful but damaged Bianca and they rapidly fall into an urgent, tempestuous affair. He's hesitant over their relationship since she seems to thrive on conflict and is constantly baiting him into physical altercation. Bianca gives Vittorio an exquisite leather belt as a gift; he knows immediately that she wants him to whip her with it. Driven by his craving for her, Vittorio complies to Bianca's desire. Their relationship escalates into a dark realm of S&M which becomes more and more self-destructive.
Top Cast
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James Russo
Vittorio De Simone
Eleonora Brigliadori
Bianca Ravelli
Giuliana Calandra
Bianca's Mother
Anna Bonaiuto
The Judge
Karen Moore
Nora
Lidia Broccolino
Bianca's Friend
Riccardo Salvino
Prof. Achille Biondelli
Delia D'Alberti
Biondelli's Wife
Claire Hardwick
Vittorio's Mistress
Valentino Zeichen
Self (as Mario Zeichen)
Paolo Pigozzi
Francesco Scali
Anchorman
Emidio La Vella
The Doctor
Marisa Serafina
Nurse
Ivano Marescotti
Friend of Bianca's Mother
Francesco Palermo
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Giuliana Gamba
- Screenplay & Story
- Francesca Archibugi, Claudia Sbarigia, Gloria Malatesta
- Original Score
- Rosalino Cellamare
- Original Title
- La cintura
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Metrofilm, San Francisco Film, Reteitalia
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Giuliana Gamba
Francesca Archibugi, Claudia Sbarigia, Gloria Malatesta, Alberto Moravia, Piero De Bernardi
Rosalino Cellamare
Luigi Verga
Carlo Bartolucci
Galliano Juso, Giovanni Bertolucci
Department Leadership Roster
Giuliana Gamba
Director
Galliano Juso
Producer
Giovanni Bertolucci
Producer
Francesca Archibugi
Screenplay
Claudia Sbarigia
Screenplay
Luigi Verga
Director of Photography
Rosalino Cellamare
Original Music Composer
Gloria Malatesta
Screenplay
Claudio Cinini
Production Design
Carlo Bartolucci
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Belt.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Belt.
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1989
1989
The List
Why Watch
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Belt
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Belt about?
Vittorio, an American novelist teaching in Rome, meets the beautiful but damaged Bianca and they rapidly fall into an urgent, tempestuous affair. He's hesitant over their relationship since she seems to thrive on conflict and is constantly baiting him into physical altercation. Bianca gives Vittorio an exquisite leather belt as a gift; he knows immediately that she wants him to whip her with it. Driven by his craving for her, Vittorio complies to Bianca's desire. Their relationship escalates into a dark realm of S&M which becomes more and more self-destructive.
Who directed The Belt?
The Belt was directed by Giuliana Gamba.
Who stars in The Belt?
The principal cast of The Belt includes James Russo, Eleonora Brigliadori, Giuliana Calandra, Anna Bonaiuto, Karen Moore.
When was The Belt released and how long is it?
The Belt was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for The Belt?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Belt was composed by Rosalino Cellamare.
Is The Belt based on a book or true story?
The Belt is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Alberto Moravia".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Belt?
The Belt holds official age classifications: DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.).