The Alcove Poster

The Alcove 1985

★ 5.437 votes88 min📅 1985-01-21

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1930s Italy, *The Alcove (1985)* weaves a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and forbidden desire.

Director: Joe D'Amato

Cast

Lilli Carati
Lilli Carati
Alessandra
Annie Belle
Annie Belle
Wilma
Laura Gemser
Laura Gemser
Zerbal
Al Cliver
Al Cliver
Elio De Silveris
Nello Pazzafini
Nello Pazzafini
The Gardener
Roberto Caruso
Furio
Steven Luotto
Furio (voice) (uncredited)
Susan Spafford
Alexandra (voice) (uncredited)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Alcove (1985) about?

The film follows Elio, who returns from Africa to Italy in 1936 with a controversial gift for his wife, Alessandra—a young woman named Zerbal. But his arrival disrupts the secret romance between Alessandra and her cold secretary, Velma, sparking a dangerous web of desire and betrayal.

Who directed The Alcove?

The Alcove was directed by Joe D'Amato, a filmmaker known for his bold and atmospheric storytelling in dramas and thrillers.

Who stars in The Alcove?

The cast features Lilli Carati as Alessandra, Annie Belle as Velma, Laura Gemser, Al Cliver, and Nello Pazzafini.

Is The Alcove (1985) worth watching?

While it's a niche drama from 1985, *The Alcove* offers a compelling blend of romance and thriller elements with strong performances from its lead cast. Fans of Italian cinema or atmospheric period stories may find it intriguing, especially for its exploration of forbidden desire.

How long is The Alcove?

The Alcove has a runtime of 88 minutes.

About The Alcove (1985) — A Forbidden Passion Unfolds in a 1930s Italian Drama

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1930s Italy, *The Alcove (1985)* weaves a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and forbidden desire. Directed by the visionary Joe D'Amato, this evocative drama unfolds when Elio returns from Africa bearing a controversial gift—Zerbal, the daughter of an African tribal king—for his wife, Alessandra. But the homecoming takes a dramatic turn when Alessandra's simmering discontent collides with her secret romance with Velma, Elio's icy secretary. As tensions rise and loyalties fracture, the film brims with sensuality, intrigue, and the suffocating secrets of a marriage on the brink.

Starring the magnetic Lilli Carati as Alessandra and the enigmatic Annie Belle as Velma, *The Alcove* blends romance and thriller elements into a story of love triangulated by resentment and power. D'Amato crafts an atmosphere thick with the heat of repressed emotions, where every glance and whispered word drips with tension. With its rich historical setting and emotionally charged narrative, this 1985 gem invites viewers into a world where desire and duty collide, leaving audiences questioning what truly lies beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect facade.