Women of the World

Women of the World (originally titled *La donna nel mondo*) is a 1963 Italian mondo film, often categorized as a "shockumentary." It was written and directed by Gualtiero Jacopetti, Paolo Cavara, and Franco Prosperi. The film was released in Italy on February 28, 1963, after the international success of its predecessor, *Mondo Cane*, which had premiered in Italy on March 30, 1962. The English-language version was narrated by Peter Ustinov. Unlike the first film, which relied heavily on leftover footage, *Women of the World* was primarily composed of newly shot material, though it follows a similar travelogue format, presenting vignettes meant to shock or surprise Western audiences by showing glimpses into the lives of women around the world. Unlike *Mondo Cane*, which had no central theme, this film was marketed as a titillating look at feminine flesh, exotic sexual practices, and intrigue. As with the earlier film, some scenes are staged or creatively manipulated, despite claims of being a genuine documentary.

The film opens with a series of vignettes from around the world, including a retired Scotsman on Iwa Island (though his name is not confirmed in canonical sources) living with 84 wives, aged 13 to 18, and their 52 children. On an island off Australia, the absence of women leads many men to act out the roles of seductive mermaids. Later, the film features servicemen in dress uniform marching down city streets, gazing at women lining the route, and Israeli women soldiers shown nude bathing.

In Europe, Bastille Day celebrations in Paris include passionate public kissing among strangers. In Ravenna, Italy, women line up to kiss the military statue of 15th-century condottiero Guidarello Guidarelli. Sweden’s only female minister conducts mass. Parisian cabarets welcome gays and lesbians. In Papua New Guinea, homosexual tribesmen preen while women do chores. On the nudist Île du Levant in France, bodies are fully on display. In China, women bathe outdoors in light gowns to avoid sun damage.

In New Guinea, women bathe in mud to lighten their skin. On Sardinia, paid female mourners enhance funeral services. Tahitian women perform sensual dances. At the Cannes Film Festival, starlets strip to brief bikinis for photographers. In Hollywood, women waiting for their big break work as elevator operators or gas station attendants.