The film is widely known for the controversy surrounding its star, . Shortly after the film's release, she became a world-famous children's television host. For decades, she fought legal battles to keep the movie out of circulation due to its erotic content involving her character and a child actor. The ban on the film was only fully lifted in 2017.

Be warned: the 1982 English dubbing is not the "director’s cut." Some censors trimmed a few seconds of overt material for US release, but purists argue the shorter English dub has better pacing.

This version reimagines the film as a dark, psychological period piece in the vein of The Night Porter meets The Grand Budapest Hotel , focusing on memory, political allegory, and the haunting nature of childhood trauma—all while delivering the "awesome" melodrama and suspense that cult film fans crave.

Fischer, a former Miss Brazil, delivers a performance that is far removed from the typical "glamour girl" trope. In the English dub, her character’s sophistication and underlying melancholy translate powerfully. She portrays Anna not as a villain or a predator, but as a lonely, somewhat narcissistic woman who is baffled by the intensity of the young boy's affection. Her chemistry with the young protagonist is the engine of the film, creating a tension that is palpable in any language.