The Sessions 2012 R

I gave this film 5 star on my Netflix rating, the highest score. The film is not perfect but the picture’s content and the acting of Helen Hunt make up for the flaws. The headline subject of this film is sexuality and disability: the purchasing of sex surrogate services for erotic pleasure and training. The sub-text question involves sexual intimacy: a privilege or right? The sub-text question is addressed with humor as both a devout disabled Catholic and his Priest Confessor struggle with God’s view of morality and sexuality. For example, at one point the question of God’s view of oral sex is asked. The Priest’s answer is that it is more a question of taste! The Priest’s final moral judgment on this subject is that God “will give a pass” on the issue of sexual sin outside of marriage. It is almost too easy in 2014 to view this conclusion in the context of an enjoyable romantic comedy film. Actually, this conclusion is profoundly radical in the context of traditional Christian theology. It is even more profound to realize that this film (I believe) represents a consensus view. Helen Hunt is brilliant as the sex surrogate. The film is surprising explicit and erotic. Helen Hunt casual acceptance of her frequent nudity, her discussion of sexual functioning while nude and her “acting or maybe not acting” to achieve successful sexual penetration with her disabled partner is heartwarming. Yes, heartwarming is an appropriate adverb. I give a strong recommendation for this film. 7/6/14