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Jane Campion’s sex scenes are fabulousIn the first explicit scene, we see Detective Malloy (Mark Ruffalo) expertly going down on Ryan’s Frannie, followed by a detailed discussion of where he learned his oral skills. Though it’s not shown, we’re given plenty of clues that Fran has definitely got off. The couple then have intercourse, but the focus here is on facial expressions, tender touches and eye contact. Both actors are nude in this scene, and no effort is made to hide Ruffalo’s penis as is usual in mainstream films. In the second major sex scene, Frannie’s impales herself on Malloy, and her orgasm signals the end of sex. In both sex scenes, female pleasure, and Frannie’s experience of sex is given prime importance. Frannie initiates both encounters – she is never “swept away” by her passion. The first time she deliberately and calmly agrees to have sex. The second time she sets up the situation and is in complete control over what happens. Campion offered a similar situation in The Piano. Even though Baines (Harvey Keitel) sets out to blackmail Ada (Holly Hunter) to obtain sex, she becomes a willing participant. Cunnilingus and gentle, sensual touching are shown as sex acts within themselves, rather than just a chore to be performed as foreplay. The sex is female-focused, and deeply fulfilling. It’s a long way from the plethora of standard mainstream sex scenes that we so often see. You know the ones… our couple give in to their raging desires, he unbuttons/tears off her clothing, there’s lot’s of passionate kissing… and then it’s all penetration with him on top until the end when they simultaneously orgasm. Mainstream sex scene invariably give us a male-dominated, missionary position view of sex, and we become so immune to it that when a film like In The Cut comes along it’s a shock to the system. I also found this movie intriguing because the sex scenes give clear cinematic ideas on how good porn for women should be filmed. It doesn’t have to always be about the genitals. Simple images, like seeing Malloy kiss Frannie’s foot have a distinctly evocative power, and add a beautiful element of intimacy. Such small touches needn’t take away any of the heat or hardcore elements of such films. I believe they would simply enhance any other aspects of the action. Just a few thoughts… Posted: Monday 24th January 2005, 11:48 PM Back to the Blog
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