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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Review - Sleeping Beauty

File this under "A happy surprise".



This eye catching independent movie appeared on Netflix the other day.

The description sounded intriguing, so in spite of my better judgement, I checked it out.
I was expecting some lame cable porn with a screenplay as bad as the acting and all the gratuitous fake boobies you can squeeze into 90 minutes.

I was pleasantly surprised.
What I got was a surreal, cerebral, erotic art film that was well acted and was visually stimulating yet uncomfortable.  The interesting part is that the eroticism does not come from the usual source.  It sneaks up on you, and just as you think you've discovered the source, you're redirected.  There is actually no sex, per se,  in this film!  In fact I didn't see any gratuitous nudity...what was there was perfectly believable for the setting.

The movie was loosely based upon the Histoire d'O by Anne Desclos. Or as you may know it- The Story of O. Lucy, a college student, with some obvious issues of her own, goes to work for a high class 'Madame'. Much like the Story of 'O, (At least for me) the most arousing piece of the film was the 'indoctrination'. (Although much lighter in this case.)

 

The 'hook' is that these wealthy upper class older men who shell out big $$$ for the services of these high class prostitutes, can do anything they want EXCEPT penetration.  Did I mention that the women are drugged into a deep sleep and are unconscious and completely at the whim of the men who has them for the night.  It's bizarre, disturbing and uncomfortable, but yet strangely believable.  Humans are strange.  

Visually, it has a hip 1970's instagram style color and feel to it and a cold, creepy, lonely vibe to it.  If you are looking for something overly sexual and accessible to watch this may not be your best choice.  It's dark, cerebral, arousing and disturbing all at the same time.

I'm impressed enough that I want to check out the filmaker's writing as I understand she is an author.






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