Secret Things (2002) Nude Scenes

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It kinda makes more sense to say that this is more of an erotic film than a pornographic film, since it’s not strictly a porno...

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One of few French Extremity films that is more interested in telling a story than bludgeon the audience with editing and special effects or depravity... although you’d imagine it’d still be pretty easy to offend certain people if they watched this... and it does slowly devolve into depravity. One interesting thing about it is the dichotomy of its genuine feminist slant and how it’s unintentionally slightly undermined by how the male director still oggles at its female characters in an exploitative manner with the sex/nudity. Admittedly, it’s some of the most sex and nudity that you’ll ever see in an erotic film. Honestly, it’s a pretty slow film but it paces itself well. For all its raunchiness, it’s a good drama. It manages to make a compelling story out of two women mad at the world and solve this angst by becoming players. It’s kinda a less edgy version of Baise-moi [Rape Me]. Thinking especially on Nathalie’s philosophy of sex, it made me think of a female version of The DENNIS System (if you’ve ever seen It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia). It’s certainly a much better deconstruction of human sexuality and its power dynamics between the two genders than Anatomie de l'enfer [Anatomy Of Hell]. By the midpoint you wonder what happened to such a lighthearted beginning... then wonder what happened to the “lighthearted” midpoint when the third act happens. It even has probably one of the best pre-death monologues you’ll ever hear, if only for how absolutely insulting and savage it was. Seriously, the slow build up to the dark climax and its surprisingly touching resolution is perfectly crafted. Sex in film can be such a twisted proposal and a tricky thing to portray with a sense of realism. Secret Things tries it and succeeds and fails in equal measure. Sex is a main character in the film and it doesn't shy away from depicting the depths people will go to seek pleasure and power. But then you never see dicks in this movie. The visuals are slick and although the film has a feminist core, you always sense the gaze of the camera on female bodies, salivating like a rabid dog...