Sex is Comedy
Release Date:
October 20, 2004
Limited release
Writer/director Catherine Breillat takes an introspective look at the making of her controversial 2001 film, Fat Girl. The film doesn’t come right out and say this, but it is obvious from the similarities of that film and this film-within-a-film, such as having the same lead actress (Roxane Mesquida), to make the connection.
The story is basically about shooting a passionate and graphic sex scene for a film. The director (Anne Parillaud) has to work through the many problems that can come up during production. For example, she has to deal with the two main stars’ (Mesquida and Gregoire Colin) dislike for each other. Kind of ruins the chemistry, don’t you think?
Remember, this is a French film, so it will take a classier look at the subject of sex than The Fluffer or The Legend of Ron Jeremy, although there is the issue of a prosthetic penis that comes up (pardon the pun). The film focuses a lot on the question of a filmmaker’s role in a sex scene. Is the role inherently masculine and takes a male point of view? That’s one of the questions that is asked and answered in a lightweight manner.
This film has been making the film festival circuit rounds for a few years now, but is finally getting a regular theatrical release in the U.S. It had its world premiere at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and has been generally better received than other of Breillat’s films. This film will probably only make it to independent film venues before a possible home video release. So if you want the theatre experience, keep your eyes on your local newspaper listings. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
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