The story of Submission and its exploration of wartime desire
Submission is an Italian drama that centers on the collision between personal passion and the constraints of a society bound by war and tradition. Salvatore Samperi's 1976 film doesn't announce its themes with subtlety — instead, it lets them unfold through the fraught relationships of its principal characters, played by Franco Nero, Lisa Gastoni, Raymond Pellegrin, and Andréa Ferréol. The narrative weaves infidelity, power dynamics, and emotional surrender into a period setting where every glance carries weight. What's striking is how the film uses its technicolor palette to make even intimate moments feel exposed, almost clinical in their intensity. You're never quite comfortable watching it, which seems to be precisely the point.
Behind the making of Submission and its production legacy
Samperi wrote the screenplay himself, collaborating with Ottavio Jemma to craft a story that blends drama with erotic tension — a combination that was daring for mainstream Italian cinema in the mid-1970s. The film was shot in vibrant technicolor, a choice that lends the proceedings a heightened, almost theatrical quality rather than the grittier aesthetic you might expect from a war-adjacent narrative. Franco Nero, already an established presence in European cinema thanks to roles in spaghetti westerns and crime films, anchors the cast with a brooding intensity. Lisa Gastoni brings a different energy — her performance carries the weight of someone caught between desire and duty. Raymond Pellegrin and Andréa Ferréol round out the ensemble, each contributing layers of complexity to what becomes a pressure cooker of competing desires and allegiances.
The film received two award nominations, acknowledging its ambition if not necessarily its mainstream appeal. It carries an R rating, a reflection of its sexual content and thematic material. On the IMDb scale, it sits at 6.3 out of 10 across 646 votes — a middling score that suggests the film divides viewers, which isn't unusual for work that refuses to be easily categorized or morally tidy. Hard to say if that reflects the film's actual merit or simply the difficulty audiences have with material that doesn't resolve neatly.
What makes Submission stand out in 1970s Italian cinema
The performances anchor Submission in ways that elevate it beyond mere provocation. Nero doesn't play his character as a straightforward seducer or villain — there's a vulnerability underneath the surface that makes his actions feel less like calculated moves and more like desperate grasping. Gastoni, meanwhile, carries the film's emotional core. You watch her navigate impossible choices, and the camera lingers on her face in moments where words fail. That's the real power here: the film trusts its actors to communicate what the script might only hint at.
What nobody mentions much is how the wartime setting functions not as backdrop but as pressure. The conflict doesn't just provide historical context — it creates the conditions under which normal social rules fracture. People in crisis behave differently. They want differently. They surrender to things they might otherwise resist. Samperi seems interested in how war doesn't just destroy infrastructure; it unmakes the psychological barriers we construct around desire and fidelity. The technical execution matches this thematic ambition. The cinematography uses color in ways that feel almost aggressive — reds and golds that seem to burn against the cooler tones of restraint and propriety. It's not subtle filmmaking, but it's intentional.
Where to stream Submission online
If you're looking to watch Submission, you can find it on Prime Video, where it's currently available for streaming. Movie OTT tracks where films like this one are available across all major platforms, so you can check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page for the most up-to-date availability in your region. Streaming catalogs shift constantly, so it's worth verifying before you settle in. The film's technical qualities — especially those vibrant technicolor compositions — benefit from a decent screen and sound setup, so if you have the option, streaming on a larger display will serve the film better than a phone.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Submission?
Salvatore Samperi directed and co-wrote Submission. He also collaborated with Ottavio Jemma on the screenplay, crafting a story that blends wartime drama with erotic and psychological tension.
Q: What year was Submission released?
Submission was released in 1976. It's a product of 1970s Italian cinema, when the country was producing bold, provocative work across multiple genres.
Q: Where can I watch Submission?
Submission is currently available to stream on Prime Video. Check the Where to Watch widget on this page for real-time availability and any platform updates.
Q: What is Submission's plot about?
The film explores themes of infidelity, desire, and emotional surrender set against a wartime backdrop. It follows a group of characters whose relationships fracture under the pressure of conflict and personal passion.
Q: Is Submission based on a true story?
No, Submission is an original screenplay written by director Salvatore Samperi and Ottavio Jemma. While it's set in a wartime context, it's a fictional narrative focused on psychological and emotional dynamics rather than historical events.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Submission?
Submission has an IMDb rating of 6.3 out of 10 based on 646 votes. It's a film that tends to divide viewers — some appreciate its ambition and willingness to explore uncomfortable material, while others find it uneven.
Final thoughts on Submission
Submission isn't a film for everyone, and that's okay. It's deliberately uncomfortable, visually striking, and emotionally complex in ways that demand engagement rather than passive consumption. If you're drawn to 1970s European cinema that takes risks with form and content, or if you're interested in how Franco Nero and Lisa Gastoni navigate morally murky territory, it's worth seeking out. The film doesn't offer easy answers or comfortable resolutions — it simply presents human beings in crisis, stripped of their usual defenses, and asks you to watch without looking away.
