Not since Winter's Bone has a movie gripped me to this point. Many people who knows me, think sports and drinks at the bar define me. I've worked with kids for 23 years, but this isn't necessarily my stamp. People know my love of food and my sometimes snobbish opinions of local faves. These mean nothing to me. My love of film is what defines me. Movies for me are not sheer entertainment like they are for most. For me they mean more and every once in a while, albeit infrequently, a movie grabs and shakes my very being. Tonight, I saw one of these films.
Shame, directed by Steve McQueen (not that Steve McQueen) and starring Michael Fassbender tells the tale of a man addicted to sex. More importantly orgasms. The movie begins with a shot of him laying in bed. He gets up and within seconds there he is walking, full frontal nudity and it's apparent this isn't going to be a typical movie. It's made obvious he's had sex and then we see him masturbating in the shower. We understand almost immediately, that sex is what defines Brandon. The movie continues and we soon realize that there is no joy. A beautiful prostitute, masturbating at work, a woman in a bar. It consumes him. A scene on a train where he trades glances with a woman on a train is one of the best cinematic moments I've seen in a while. No dialogue, just subtle movements and stares that are as powerful as the most boisterous yells. It's riveting and a scene, I replayed once the movie ended.
Then his sister, Sissy enters the picture. From the first moment we lay eyes on her, we realize their relationship is not a normal one. We know this already, before her appearance, when he refuses to answer her messages. She moves in with him temporarily and we know that there is an odd chemistry between them. She convinces him to see her sing and we are treated the second mesmerizing scene. Once again, the entire scene is two people in pain, suffering their own inner demons and we see right there, that something has happened to this family.
As the movie continues, Brandon tries to commit to some type of normalcy when he connects with a beautiful coworker, but soon realizes this is not attainable. We are made quite aware of this in the following scene. Brandon has an inability to care for others that is overwhelming. We know this is his failure in what appears to be a successful life. He continues his evening, entering a male sex club and then provokes a man in a bar, when seducing his girlfriend. He hates his life. The night ends with a menage-a-trois that starts out so erotic, it's almost shocking to see in a mainstream movie. The sex seems so real and so intense, but all the while it lacks any passion. The entire movie is wrapped up in this one scene, where we are treated to a close up of his face during orgasm. No relief, no satisfaction, just pain.
The movie ends with an incident in which we see a different side of Brandon. The sensitive side he's been hiding away, but we also are lead to believe that this too causes him pain, because it's not him. There is regret, there is pain, but most of all there is shame. The movie ends with one final scene and a fade to black that lets the viewer decide Brandon's path.
Very few movies make my body physically tired from watching. Shame brings us through a run of emotions that are like no other. The sexuality of the film is truly arousing. The sadness of it, is devastatingly painful. The moments where we realize each and every aspect of his being doesn't bring us closer to understanding, because it's in many ways the entire movie is a metaphor for misunderstanding what is on the outside is not necessarily what's on the inside. Then, as I mentioned, we're left to decide Brandon's path.
While watching the film, I couldn't help think of people I've been with. I remember those who I've been with who have been just for sex and those for which it meant something and sometimes vice versa. When you've truly made love to someone, it changes how you feel about sex. If that love ends and you find yourself back having sex for sex, you like it for what it is, but the connection is lacking. Imagine, never ever having that connection. Imagine not even enjoying the physicality of it. Imagine if it was a response rather than a desire. The sadness that is evoked in this movie is traumatizing in ways. To imagine the inability to love, to even enjoy passion and to wake every morning unfulfilled with that incessant need to repeat the process, all the while knowing there is no satisfaction to be had. Knowing that your normal life is nothing more than a cover for your secret. Imagine, for just a second, the greatest feeling there is, brings you shame.
Shame, directed by Steve McQueen (not that Steve McQueen) and starring Michael Fassbender tells the tale of a man addicted to sex. More importantly orgasms. The movie begins with a shot of him laying in bed. He gets up and within seconds there he is walking, full frontal nudity and it's apparent this isn't going to be a typical movie. It's made obvious he's had sex and then we see him masturbating in the shower. We understand almost immediately, that sex is what defines Brandon. The movie continues and we soon realize that there is no joy. A beautiful prostitute, masturbating at work, a woman in a bar. It consumes him. A scene on a train where he trades glances with a woman on a train is one of the best cinematic moments I've seen in a while. No dialogue, just subtle movements and stares that are as powerful as the most boisterous yells. It's riveting and a scene, I replayed once the movie ended.
Then his sister, Sissy enters the picture. From the first moment we lay eyes on her, we realize their relationship is not a normal one. We know this already, before her appearance, when he refuses to answer her messages. She moves in with him temporarily and we know that there is an odd chemistry between them. She convinces him to see her sing and we are treated the second mesmerizing scene. Once again, the entire scene is two people in pain, suffering their own inner demons and we see right there, that something has happened to this family.
As the movie continues, Brandon tries to commit to some type of normalcy when he connects with a beautiful coworker, but soon realizes this is not attainable. We are made quite aware of this in the following scene. Brandon has an inability to care for others that is overwhelming. We know this is his failure in what appears to be a successful life. He continues his evening, entering a male sex club and then provokes a man in a bar, when seducing his girlfriend. He hates his life. The night ends with a menage-a-trois that starts out so erotic, it's almost shocking to see in a mainstream movie. The sex seems so real and so intense, but all the while it lacks any passion. The entire movie is wrapped up in this one scene, where we are treated to a close up of his face during orgasm. No relief, no satisfaction, just pain.
The movie ends with an incident in which we see a different side of Brandon. The sensitive side he's been hiding away, but we also are lead to believe that this too causes him pain, because it's not him. There is regret, there is pain, but most of all there is shame. The movie ends with one final scene and a fade to black that lets the viewer decide Brandon's path.
Very few movies make my body physically tired from watching. Shame brings us through a run of emotions that are like no other. The sexuality of the film is truly arousing. The sadness of it, is devastatingly painful. The moments where we realize each and every aspect of his being doesn't bring us closer to understanding, because it's in many ways the entire movie is a metaphor for misunderstanding what is on the outside is not necessarily what's on the inside. Then, as I mentioned, we're left to decide Brandon's path.
While watching the film, I couldn't help think of people I've been with. I remember those who I've been with who have been just for sex and those for which it meant something and sometimes vice versa. When you've truly made love to someone, it changes how you feel about sex. If that love ends and you find yourself back having sex for sex, you like it for what it is, but the connection is lacking. Imagine, never ever having that connection. Imagine not even enjoying the physicality of it. Imagine if it was a response rather than a desire. The sadness that is evoked in this movie is traumatizing in ways. To imagine the inability to love, to even enjoy passion and to wake every morning unfulfilled with that incessant need to repeat the process, all the while knowing there is no satisfaction to be had. Knowing that your normal life is nothing more than a cover for your secret. Imagine, for just a second, the greatest feeling there is, brings you shame.
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