How mainstream cinema depicts kinks: Fiction vs reality
Cinema has been exploring every aspect of human interaction, and physical relationships have proved to be particularly popular. Many of us are familiar with sexual encounters forming a key part of plotlines. This can be done with a lot of humour (think Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm scene in 1989’s When Harry Met Sally). It can also be serious and thought-provoking (there are so many examples, but one that immediately springs to mind is Last Tango in Paris, telling the story of an intense love affair between characters played by Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider). But what about the darker extremes? How has cinema coped with portraying kinky sex?
More and more individuals are looking for ways to add extra dimensions to their physical partnerships. For instance, when it comes to the hugely popular world of Internet dating, everything from gay BDSM sites to kinky swingers apps are drawing newcomers regularly. People can freely interact on these platforms and discover kindred spirits. The secure communication channels make it easy to get acquainted with locals enjoying edgier practices or tender kinky sex.
Speaking of which, it would be interesting to compare how the film industry has focused on this subject. Whether one is a novice curious about finding out more or already has a lot of experience, here are some films to widen appreciation of this area.
A Dangerous Method (2011)
Viggo Mortensen is Sigmund Freud, Keira Knightley is Sabina Spielrein and Michael Fassbender is Carl Gustav Jung in this intriguing drama by controversial director David Cronenberg. The setting is the eve of the first world war, and the narrative explores the sometimes volatile relationships of pioneer psychoanalysts Freud, Spielrein and Jung. The subject matter includes discussion of sexual taboos, with fellow philosopher Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel) decrying monogamy. Jung and Spielrein have an affair, which includes elements of BDSM. The activity is fairly low-key bondage and spanking, but this would make for an excellent introduction to the topic.
The Secretary (2002)
Part black comedy, part erotic drama, this movie is based on a short story of the same name by Mary Gaitskill and is all about an intense relationship. Here, the BDSM aspect is far more to the fore, making it a logical progression from the first example. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a legal secretary, and E Edward Grey (James Spader) is her boss. But their relationship transcends the normal bounds of employment, with Grey being sexually dominant and Holloway submissive. Director Steven Shainberg stated that his inspiration for making this film was to normalise BDSM relationships in the same way that the 1980s movie My Beautiful Launderette did for gay interracial romance.
American Horror Story (TV show, season one)
This long-running horror series eventually ran for 11 seasons, featuring an ensemble cast cropping up periodically, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Kathy Bates and many other acting legends. Created by Ryan Murphy, season one takes place in Murder House in LA, California, a home supposedly haunted by troubled souls who have met grisly ends there over the years. When a new family moves in, the husband, Ben (Dylan McDermott), fantasises about the maid, Moira (Frances Conroy), whom he visualises as young and seductive (played by Alexandra Breckenridge). He also sees her dressed in a latex bondage suit, giving their trysts a dark twist. This would be a worthwhile intro to the BDSM dimension of specialised attire for “sessions”.
Bonding (TV show)
Based on the personal experience of Rightor Doyle, the show’s creator, this tells the story of Tiff (Zoe Levin), who is a student majoring in psychology but making ends meet by working on the side as a dominatrix. Balancing her professional aspirations with her dark secret becomes increasingly fraught. Tiff is assisted by her bestie from high school, Pete (Brendan Scannell), who also happens to be gay, and a waiter and wannabe stand-up comedian. There are laughs all the way along the twisting sexual undercurrents, making for another worthy inroad into the reality behind the fiction where BDSM is concerned. Pete’s exposure to the world of bondage, dominance and sadomasochism mirrors viewers’ curiosity, which helps to strip away much of the mystique about this form of consensual activity: something that has always carried a hint of taboo becomes natural and acceptable. And if it helps a struggling student to carry on with her studies, what harm is being done?
From fantasy to romcoms, movies have always reflected reality. When it comes to depicting kinky encounters between consenting adults, many gripping storylines have kept audiences hooked. Anyone drawn to this type of action might benefit from keeping an open mind about other exciting areas, such as the relationship between music and sexuality. There’s a whole world of stimulating experiences out there, so for the curious keen to discover more about what BDSM entails, any of the titles featured here will be invaluable!
The editorial unit
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