A’ L’ aventure 2009 NR

Some would dismiss this movie as disjointed segments of eroticism, pseudo-psychological, mystic fantasies, physics and philosophy. These segments clearly do not fit together. However, taken separately each segment has value both as a film and as a lesson in life’s meaning. The story is of a young women’s search for meaning. She seeks meaning in erotic adventure, hypnotic altered states, physics..yes physics and lectures from a wise elder. I found the film both erotic and fascinating, however, also highly disjointed. 7/5/14

In the Realm of the Senses, 1976 NC-17

This film, considered a classic by many, offers a beautifully filmed story of Japanese culture in the late 1930’s as the country moves towards imperialism. It is a classic ‘til death do us part’ love story of a master and prostitute mistress. It is very explicit and to my taste shows more than I wanted to see. Many characterize this move as very erotic. I could not get past the violence to enjoy the eroticism. It is beautifully filmed with close up photography. The story is one of pleasure to pain to possession. To me it was disturbing. 7/5/14

Blue is the Warmest Color, 2013 NC-17

Blue is the Warmest Color is a highly erotic and one of the best coming of age films in 25 years. The superb hand held camera work is only exceeded by the brilliant acting of Adele Exachopoulos. The press has focused on the “longest non-porn film” lesbian love scene with justification because it is highly erotic and beautifully filmed. However of almost equal in merit are the close-up spaghetti eating scenes of a French family enjoying a meal of pasta. Only the French could deliver a film with highly explicit erotic sex scenes and simultaneously deliver a film with charming and imaginative 5 year olds enjoying a school musical. The film would be worthwhile without a meaningful story. In fact we are treated to a heartfelt journey of a young woman to find first her sexual identity but moreover her life’s purpose. The story mirrors all of our sexual journeys where we unintentionally hurt someone who loves us and are intentionally hurt by someone we loved. This French film with English sub-titles can truly be compared to such great movies as Terms of Endearment and Ordinary People. Feb. 2014

Sex At Dawn, by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha’, Haper Collins, 2010

Kate Dailey of Newsweek says of this book “it takes a swing at pretty much every big idea on human nature: that poverty is an inevitable consequence of life on earth, that mankind is by nature brutish and, most important, that humans evolved to be monogamous.”

Sex At Dawn is an important and thought provoking book that challenges many of the accepted assumptions of western culture. Here is a sampling of Ryan and Jetha’ ideas;

• Humans are evolved to have multiple sexual partners either sequentially, simultaneously or both,
• Political and religious systems support property ownership that includes women. These systems are purposefully designed to impede female sexuality,
• Cultures with female leadership, shared parenting and maternal lineage are associated with robust female sexual activity, high female sexual desire, non-monogamous orientation, economic parity and lower male violence.
• Given religious and political restraint, the human female is sexually insatiable whereas the human male requires prolonged periods of recovery.
• Nearly all sexual assumptions of evolution, anthropology and psychology are false
• The assertions that humans are naturally monogamous, most fulfilled in single life-long relationships, and best parents in pair-bonded relationships, are false,
• Male promiscuity is hormonal and endocrine driven
• Knowing “who your father is” only became important with concepts of capital ownership

The list goes on, and also at times the book is very funny!

The authors present their arguments about sexuality in the context of scientific evidence. Some of their assertions lack depth of evidence; however the scope of their data cannot simply be dismissed. This is an important read for those interested in human sexuality but also for those struggling with infidelity. Not surprisingly, the authors suggest some unorthodox solutions. It is a must read for marriage and family counselors. 1/6/14