A recurring point of confusion and discourse on Letterboxd is the existence of the 2012 remake, New Maladolescenza (Dir. Hberg B.).
Film: Maladolescenza (1977) Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Review Title: A beautiful nightmare, or an exploitative mess?
There is a distinct category of European cinema from the 70s that hides behind the veil of "artistic coming-of-age allegory" to parade underage nudity under the guise of profundity. Maladolescenza is the king of this hill.
It is undeniable that, visually, this film has a hypnotic quality. The setting—a dreamlike, mist-shrouded forest that feels entirely removed from civilization—creates a strong atmosphere of isolation. The use of nature as a playground for the trio of characters (Fabrizio, Laura, and Silvia) is visually striking. There is a distinct attempt here to capture the cruelty of adolescence, the transition from innocence to corruption, and the primal nature of human relationships.
However, the "message" is drowned out by the medium. maladolescenza letterboxd
The film attempts to explore the darkness of growing up—jealousy, manipulation, and the loss of innocence—but it does so by subjecting its young cast to scenarios that feel gratuitous and uncomfortable. The narrative, which revolves almost entirely around a love triangle and power dynamics, feels like a thin excuse for the imagery on display.
On Letterboxd, we often talk about "vibes," and this movie has them: creepy, voyeuristic, and melancholic vibes. But unlike other controversial coming-of-age films (like Bilitis or Pretty Baby), Maladolescenza feels singularly hollow.
Verdict: An interesting artifact for those studying 70s European erotica or censorship history, but a difficult watch for modern audiences. The cinematography is lush, but the intent feels predatory. It creates a world that is fascinating to look at, but leaves you feeling dirty for looking.
Tags: #controversial #comingofage #italiancinema #cruelty #forest #70s
Letterboxd is known for its passionate, cinephile community that logs, reviews, and rates everything from avant-garde classics to obscure exploitation films. Maladolescenza has gained a strange second life on the platform for several reasons: A recurring point of confusion and discourse on
Debates on “Separating Art from Artist” – Unlike many controversial films, the issue here is not just directorial intent but the actual harm caused during production. Letterboxd comment sections often host heated debates about whether watching or logging the film constitutes endorsement.
The presence of Maladolescenza highlights a grey area in Letterboxd’s Terms of Service.
Because Maladolescenza is banned in multiple countries (including the UK, Germany, and Norway), its availability is limited to underground torrents, bootleg DVDs, and occasional archival screenings. Letterboxd does not host films; it only hosts metadata and user reviews.
However, the platform has faced pressure to remove the film’s page entirely. Critics argue that by allowing users to rate and review the film, Letterboxd normalizes its existence and implicitly guides curious viewers toward illegal sources.
To date, Letterboxd has kept the page, citing its policy against removing films for content alone (they have kept Salò, Cannibal Holocaust, and A Serbian Film). But Maladolescenza is different. The others feature adult actors simulating violence. This one features real children in unsimulated contexts. Letterboxd is known for its passionate, cinephile community
A 2022 petition on Change.org, shared widely on Letterboxd itself, gathered 8,000 signatures demanding the removal of the film from the database. Letterboxd’s official response was that they "defer to legal authorities in each territory" and that removing the film would be "a form of historical erasure." This response was met with outrage in the comment sections.
No discussion of Maladolescenza on Letterboxd is complete without mentioning Eva Ionesco. The actress, who plays Silvia, was only 11 years old during filming. Her mother, the famous (and infamous) photographer Irina Ionesco, had been photographing Eva in erotic poses since she was a toddler.
Eva later sued her mother for the photographs and publicly stated that she felt exploited by Murgia. In interviews, she described the set of Maladolescenza as psychologically damaging. She is now a photographer and actress who has explicitly disavowed the film.
Letterboxd users frequently paste quotes from Eva’s adult interviews into their reviews. This transforms the film from a fictional narrative into a documentary of a child’s trauma. The platform becomes a space for public testimony, not just film criticism.
It is crucial to state:
Maladolescenza contains real, simulated sexual acts involving child performers (ages 11–13).
In many jurisdictions (including the UK, Canada, Germany, and parts of the US), possessing or distributing the film is illegal under child exploitation laws. Letterboxd itself does not host the film but allows its page to remain for informational purposes, though they have removed some user reviews that violate their guidelines.