Nostalgia Kinky

Since I’m not wanting to bury the lead, Mondo Macabro’s Blu-ray special edition of Antonio D’Agostino’s EVA MAN films is one of the best releases of the decade. In fact, considering it celebrates films made more than four decades ago starring two trans women it very well might be one of the most important HD releases a boutique company has ever delivered. Serving as an stateside introduction to the incredible artistic world of director Antonio D’Agostino and starring the absolutely fabulous team of Eva Robin’s and Ajita Wilson, EVA MAN and its sequel are remarkable exploitation films that transcend their way past exploitation into something wonderfully subversive and celebratory. As commentators Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner point out on their incredibly informative and warm audio track, in a perfect world we’d have a whole line of EVA MAN films and I’m grateful we have at least these two.

I wasn’t sure how I wanted to approach this review and have decided to focus mostly on the incredibly set of extras on Mondo Macabro’s startling new release. As for the films, they are both a lot of fun and are quite unforgettable. D’Agostino had just delivered one of the seventies’ great films with CEREMONY OF THE SENSES and while neither EVA MAN scales the heights of that staggering work, they are both brilliantly subversive in their own way. The EVA MAN films are deliberately ridiculous and pulpy in the best way…like a seemingly unfilmable graphic novel somehow brought faithfully to the screen. D’Agostino is a master and with EVA MAN he achieves something remarkably unique and the way he allows Robin’s and Wilson to absolutely shine is still a powerfully progressive act. He obviously loves these infectious and beautiful women and these unforgettable showcases he gave them are actually very special, despite obvious budget and genre limitations.

I decided to focus mostly on the Blu-ray extras because I cannot imagine anyone viewing EVA MAN not wanting to know more about these films and the artists that made them. As rewarding as the films are, it is the authoritative set of supplements that help place them properly in film and trans history. These are landmark films and I hope anyone scared off by their exploitative and adult nature won’t be. Robin’s and Wilson especially deserve to be discussed and lauded more, especially as so many trans rights are under horrifying attack.

The commentary track I mentioned earlier by Maclay and Gardner is an essential listen and one of the most enjoyable chats I have listed to in some time. It’s an informative, fun and passionate talk and I enjoyed every minute. It was especially interesting listening to them comparing EVA MAN to a more recent mainstream work like EMILIA PEREZ, noting that it is actually D’Agostino’s films that are more respectful to the Trans community. Also, good shout out to Jane Fonda!
I loved this commentary.

While most of EVA MAN’S supplements come from a critical and historical background three people who worked on the film also are on hand giving informative interviews via sound recordist Luciano Muratori, cinematographer Hans Burmann and most amazing Eva Robin’s herself! Robin’s, still so beautiful, shares her thoughts on the film, Wilson, her career and life in a really marvelous interview. There is also one of D’agostino’s later short films, Metamorfosi, an exceptionally powerful work that is a pleasure to see. A booklet by Ismael Fernandez is provided as part of the limited edition Red Case edition.

The major highlights of the disc come in two powerful video essays, one focused on Wilson and the other on D’Agostino. For Wilson’s profile, Eurocult historian Alex Mendíbil delivers a penetrating 45 minute plus guide to her beguiling career and life. It’s a fascinating and informing look at an incredible woman, who has always been unfairly shrouded in controversy and mystery. If nothing else, anyone viewing these films and features will come away with the understanding that both Robin’s and Wilson deserved so much more fame, respect and quality film work than they were ever given. I came away from this release absolutely loving these two ladies and am thankful to now know and understand more about their lives and hate the men who made it more difficult for them.

Finally, Mondo Macabro’s EVA MAN marks the first time Antonio D’Agostino’s films have been made officially available on disc in the United States, an insane fact considering how astounding CEREMONY OF THE SENSES is. For this inaugural D’Agostino release, we are treated to a fantastic essay by historian Ian Higbee that guides us through the great man’s incredibly varied life and career. Higbee exposes D’Agostino as one of the great unknown artists of the second half of the twentieth century and his essay is expertly edited and written. I found myself taking notes during it as I want to discover as much of D’Agostino’s work, cinematically and beyond, as I can. I can’t imagine too many people viewing this who won’t want to do the same. There is something so exciting about the resurrection of an artist and, with this essay on Antonio D’Agostino, Ian Higbee does just that.

In a sad bit of fate, Antonio D’Agostino passed away earlier this year just before he could finally see some of his work return to the United States. In one of Higbee’s most moving sections of his essay, he discusses this and talks about the connection he made with the great artist’s surviving family. The EVA MAN films are landmark works, real trailblazers and so extremely special. Mondo Macabro and the team they assembled for this release should all be highly commended.

-Jeremy Richey, June 2025-