Violante (played by Sonia Braga in some versions; note: different releases have different principal actresses listed—see casting section) marries a wealthy, older man and then becomes involved with a younger lover. The story unfolds as a mix of deliberate erotic episodes, emotional confrontations, and reflective interludes, exploring the limits of marital fidelity and personal freedom. Brass frames the narrative episodically, often privileging mood, spectacle, and erotic set-pieces over tight plot mechanics.

Upon release, Cheeky was dismissed by many Italian critics as lightweight, but it found its audience on home video and late-night television. For a generation growing up in the early 2000s — before streaming normalized explicit content — Brass’s films were often a first glimpse of European attitudes toward sex: less guilty, more anatomical, and strangely wholesome in their lack of violence.

If you are looking to spotlight Tinto Brass ’s (originally titled Trasgredire , 2000),