sex, lies and videotape

To be shown: 26 February 2007

USA 1989
100 minutes
Director: Stephen Soderberg
Starring: James Spader, Andie Macdowell, Peter Gallaher.

Synopsis

Centring on a small group of self-obsessed LA residents Soderbergh lays out a tale of thirtysomethings who have developed or are developing an unhealthy focus on their own sex lives. The narrative unfolds in a way that is both sexually invasive but absent of nudity.

Ann (MacDowell) has a repression problem and a therapist; her husband John (Gallagher) has been sexually rejected; Graham (Spader) likes to videotape women talking candidly to him about their sexual experiences. This is his source of sexual pleasure and interest although he soon mentions to Ann that he is impotent.

With the tortuous story-twists of infidelity and discovery, the film is dangerously close to cliché and absurdism. However, Soderbergh is far better than that and steers his work through this potentially annoying maelstrom producing a compelling slice of American middleclass angst. By the time Ann and Graham find common ground, (an apparent impossibility if you review a synopsis only), Sex, Lies and Videotape has the audience fully engrossed and actually caring, at times, for people who you might have initially suspected just required an over dramatised slap.

Perhaps the most impressive element of the film is that, at the point we might think the characters are too self-obsessed to be worth our time, the characters discover the same thing and seek resolution by re-capturing the essence of what should be important to them. Ultimately the film is an engrossing exploration through solid acting, spontaneous and reactive performances and mutual agreement between the characters and the audience that talking about masturbation is as natural a topic for conversation as shopping.

Winner of La Palme D'Or for best film it remains a challenging prospect despite the 17 years since it was first released.