Martha (1974)

In the mesmerizing narrative of Martha (1974), we follow the life of the titular character, Martha (Margit Carstensen), a single woman in her early thirties living under the oppressive shadow of her abusive father. Her life takes an unexpected turn during a vacation in Rome when her father succumbs to a heart attack and dies. Martha, with her emotional resilience, reacts with stoic indifference and returns home, stepping into a new era of servitude to her demanding and ungrateful mother. As her mother's biting insults and degrading remarks start to wear her down, Martha unexpectedly finds herself leaving behind her beloved job and accepting a marriage proposal from an equally disdainful man, Helmuth. Their honeymoon in Italy becomes a chilling prelude to a life of torment; Helmuth seizes control of Martha's life, dismissing her job, banishing her mother to a mental institution, and subjecting her to his cruel whims and violent carnal desires. Upon their return to Germany, Martha finds herself in a new house, her old life packed away and discarded by her domineering husband. Initially, Martha's naivety leads her to perceive Helmuth's possessiveness, disrespect, and sadistic tendencies as normal marital challenges. However, the scales fall from her eyes when she defies Helmuth's suffocating control and reconnects with an old acquaintance, Herr Kaiser, who reveals the stark truth about her husband's sadistic nature. Haunted by the revelation, Martha lives in constant fear, convinced that Helmuth is planning to murder her. As her fears amplify, the movie plunges into a dizzying spiral, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, questioning the very nature of Martha's reality. The film masterfully weaves a tale of abuse, manipulation, and paranoia, creating a chilling portrait of a woman trapped in a web of psychological torment. Martha (1974) is an exploration of the terrifying depths of a twisted relationship, leaving viewers to ponder the true nature of the villain in Martha's life.

Martha is a drama movie featuring Karlheinz Böhm.

Martha is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.