When Catherine Spaaks husband dies, she discovers a hitherto hidden room on their estate. The room is surrounded by mirrors and curious sexual devices; when Spaak takes a peek at hubbys diary, she learns he was carrying on a secret life that made Sacher-Masoch and Krafft-Ebbing look like pikers. Deciding that if you cant beat em, join em, Spaak begins to conduct her own kinky sex life. Doctor Jean-Louis Trintigant, who sincerely loves Spaak, tries to deflect her from whips, boots and handcuffs, but before long he too succumbs to the seductions of aberrant behavior. Libertine was originally released in Italy as La Matriarca. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide