Sex in film

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This article is about sex in mainstream film. For pornographic films, see pornographic film.
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Please improve this article if you can. (December 2007)

The use of sex in film has been controversial since the earliest cinematography and the first portrayals of love scenes and nude scenes. Ever since the silent era there have been actors and actresses who have shown parts of their bodies or undergarments, or dressed and behaved in ways considered sexually provocative by contemporary standards. Some films have been criticized or banned by religious groups and governments because of this.

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[edit] Attitudes by region

[edit] India

Sex in mainstream Indian movies was rare until the end of nineties, and kisses, sex, and rape were depicted symbolically. For example, kissing was shown as the meeting of two flowers, rape as the breaking of glass bottle etc. In recent years, the movie industry, especially Bollywood, has changed, and some movies deal with sexual themes, though not without controversy. Many Bollywood stars accept sex scenes but without nudity. Kissing is common.

[edit] Philippines

Many erotically charged films have been produced, to the chagrin of feminists in that country.[citation needed]

[edit] Europe

European movies are famous for erotic scenes, particularly those from Portugal, Italy, France and Germany.[citation needed] Pedro Almodovar of Spain is a prolific director who includes eroticism as part of many of his movies. Tinto Brass, from Italy, has dedicated his career to converting explicit sex into mainstream content. His films are also notable for feminist-friendly eroticism. French filmmaker Catherine Breillat caused controversy with unsimulated sex in her films Romance and Anatomy of Hell. In Italy, nudity and strong sexual themes go back to the silent era with films like The Last Days of Pompeii (1926). Portuguese films without nudity or sex are rare.[citation needed]

[edit] North America

[edit] United States

Many comedy films are based around sex. Drama series, including daytime soap operas also feature many sex scenes. Characters meant to be portrayed as minors are often played by twenty-something actors, mainly to display the sexuality of the "underage" characters.


Mexico

In Mexico, many comedy movies are based around sex, typically portraying men as unstoppable sex-seeking creatures and women as willing targets. Although the numbers of such comedies waned during the 1990s, domestic servants, bar workers, dancers and neighbors' wives continue to be depicted as potentially willing sexual partners.

[edit] Feminist views

Many feminists view eroticism and sex in film as exploiting women because women are shown erotically or as objects of erotic desire. This is similar to feminist critiques of western art throughout history—that it treats women as objects of a discretionary male gaze. This is not a universal view, however; see sex-positive feminism.

[edit] Religious views

Many more conservative Christian organizations have protested against films they consider over-erotic. They believe that sex in movies is totally uneceptable. In many Muslim countries, movies have been banned for their content.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links