"The Sessions" is adapted from the personal experience of poet Mark O'Brien. After Mark received a new magazine interview task "Investigation on the Sexual Life of the Disabled", he also had to start thinking about his identity as a virgin. Encouraged by a pastor's friend and a psychological counselor, Mark contacted Sara, a professional sex therapist.
What is a sex therapist?
To be honest, to watch such a real-life independent film is somewhat curious. How to solve the sexual needs of the disabled? What is the difference between sex therapists and professional sex workers, that is, professional prostitutes? Every spectator sitting on a cushioned chair in a movie theater must be wondering, there is indeed the possibility of a reputation.
Many years ago, there were sex workers in the Netherlands who specialized in providing sex services for people with disabilities, and there were similar sex volunteers in the UK. A large part of them were professional prostitutes who enjoyed special funding, which was considered a type of social welfare for people with disabilities. The government pays for it. The answer given in "Intimate Therapy" is that professional prostitutes have to solve sexual desires, while sex therapists have to solve sexual puzzles, sexual obstacles from physical and mental or special experiences. It is to teach the audience how to get along with their own sexual desires correctly. In addition to the term sex therapist, you can also use sex surrogate, which is a stand-in for the treatment of sexual disorders, which is equivalent to being a coach and a training partner. Another difference from prostitutes selling sex is that there is a limit to the number of such sexual counseling sessions, which is six times in total. The professional term they use is: Body Awareness Exercise, the exercise of body consciousness awakening. For the first time, Sharo stroked Mark from the hair and praised every part of his body. The second time, Sharuo led Mark to find the sensitive part of the body. Each time there is a theme and task to be solved.
The new height of acting
Those who truly take acting as their life's career are lone hunters in the forest, always looking for the next prey that can prove themselves.
John Harks, who plays Mark, should be nominated again for Best Actor Oscar this year. Performing entirely by facial micro-expression, the last time we enjoyed this super-difficult acting was "Diving Bell and Butterfly" in 2007. One scene was Mark’s first treatment. He was lying at the door and his assistant pressed the doorbell. Another kindly disabled girl was willing to lend his apartment to Mark’s place for sex treatment. Within a few seconds after the doorbell rang to answer, there was a close-up, his nose trembling slightly, his blinking speed increased, the corners of his mouth twitched, and even his eyelashes and pupils were part of the scene. I believe that fans who are still discussing which group of people and horses are hungry in "1942" and "Fantasy Drifting of Youth" can completely shut up after watching the performance of John Hacks in "Intimate Therapy". The rickety ribs and muscle atrophy and stiffness can only be experienced by a body that has been paralyzed for more than three years, and even professional doctors have bluffed it. Although John Hacks said humblely in an interview with the media, he only controlled his diet half a year before the filming and removed the part of muscle training from his daily exercise. An excellent actor who goes all out to treat every role, big or small, is always worthy of taking off his hat.
In a movie like this in which the male protagonist cannot move, the dialogue is the top priority. Mark’s many wonderful dialogues made me want to take out a small book and quickly write them down. For example, he goes to church every week to listen to God’s words, “Of course I believe in God, otherwise I’m so miserable. There must be someone who can blame me! "The Mark portrayed by John Hacks is humorous and upright. He is confused when he is confused and hurt when he is hurt. Treat people around you kindly and gently, and always love. Although he has a disability, his personality is much better than normal people. God really contrasted his own image with the mark, faintly radiating the radiance of God in the broken flesh, and it was very warm.
The role of sex therapist Sarah may be more difficult to some extent. Naked but not erotic, caring but not indiscriminate, Helen Hunt's performance can be described by the movie title she once won the Oscar queen: perfection. First of all, Sha Ruo is extremely professional. Every treatment course is clearly defined. After the treatment course, she takes notes and recordings, so she is sober and rational to face the different psychological reflections of the patient Mark. She is very frank, and may surprise some people. Sha Ruo has a perfect family and her husband is fully aware of his career. Even before falling asleep, Sha Ruo would discuss with her husband from time to time what is the situation of a patient I have. She has a great power of love. In the last treatment, she moved a big mirror to look at Mark’s paralyzed and shrunken naked body during the last treatment. She said clearly and softly, “Mark, this is your body, the body God created for you. There is nothing to be ashamed of." While redeeming others while redeeming oneself, Sarao's shots are often contrasted with the image of the Virgin in the movie. Frankly speaking, I am embarrassed to use the word great to describe a character, but if Sha is a great woman, there is no doubt about it. A movie that is
as heavy as Mount Tai and as light as a feather
. It discusses the topics of life and death, human nature, faith, sex and redemption, which are as heavy as Mount Tai. For the sake of it, the director and screenwriter Levine did not do so. Hollywood film critics are really objective. "Compared with the shining starring actors, director Ben Levine really doesn't have that genius, but he has the ability to make these talented actors shine 10,000 times more." , This can also be regarded as one of the highest evaluations of the directorship. He created a good script, and found the right candidate for each role.
Under the interpretation of director Ben Levine, everyone in "Intimate Therapy" is so cute. It's been a long time since I saw William Messi clean and neatly shaved. He may be the loveliest priest in film history. He believes that sex is one of the most serious things in the Bible. He also joked after listening to Mark’s confession: "Sex, God is the most involved, even if it’s people who don’t believe in God. Oh God called it endless during the climax.” After Mark’s first sexual experience, the priests came directly to the door to celebrate with Mark, wearing a flower headband and carrying half a dozen beer. In addition, there are cool Asian female assistants, pushing Mark Tao second-hand clothes shop, and quickly took out the cologne from the bag before his first treatment, and sprayed him with a scent. Helping out; the Mexican uncle’s nanny encouraged Mark to try, thinking that “sex is overrated and a necessity in life”; the husband of sex therapist Sharuo secretly dismantled the love poem sent by Mark, and solemnly apologized to his wife the next day... …Even the waiter in the cafe carefully placed a cup of latte next to Mark’s head and adjusted the position of the straw. He did not appear to be surprised by this special guest, but just reminded: “It’s possible to drink coffee with a straw. It will be a bit hot, it's better to wait a little longer."
Everyone didn't show any extra sympathy or attention to Mark. They treated him as an ordinary person, an equal friend. This makes the whole film full of the golden and gentle tone of the autumn afternoon sun, with affection. The movie talks about topics that are as heavy as Mount Tai, but the techniques are as light as a feather. We always praise the small and see the big, but it may be even more commendable to shoot such a special theme in a soft, warm and gentle way.
At the end of the movie, it was Mark’s funeral. “Some people say that life is half a glass of water, optimists think it’s half full, and pessimists think it’s half empty. But no one said that water and air just divide the glass equally.” The funeral was accompanied by Mark. The narrator was smiling Mimi jokingly, “The water in my cup just can fill the bottom of the cup. But even so, because of your presence, I get the greatest happiness.” Of course, Mark’s funeral was his. The priests presided over, all the people he had loved in his life came, and the sex therapy Sara and her husband also came. Everyone sat together with tears and smiles, and listened to a love poem written by Mark.
As a result, the audience who was joking and chatting with popcorn and waiting for the paralyzed boy to break the place became quiet. Everyone sat and watched the subtitles in silence. The atmosphere was not solemn, but quiet. What kind of a gentle movie, it evokes the brightest part of human nature. Let me feel once again that man is a glorious creation and should not live so cringely.
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