The portrayal of sexuality has always been at the core of cinema. But how to depict sexuality in the 2020s, in the era following the #MeToo movement? How to find room for contradictions and friction within the swamp of the male gaze and its counter gazes, representation discourse, and empowerment-driven sex-positivity? In the current blockbuster movies, muscles grow and bodies become more beautiful, yet sex is missing, as RS Benedict notes in their essay.
Troublesome Desires highlights movies that don’t shy away from showing people who desire. Instead, sexuality is explored curiously and without hasty judgements. The characters in the films make wrong choices, fluctuate between empowerment and disempowerment, and at times, deal with heavy topics. However, typical for Art House cinema, the approach remains contemplative. Despite their themes, the films don´t aim for excessive violence or shock value. Some films address sexual disorders, some explore and test personal boundaries.
The theme consists of a panel discussion and 12 films. All the movies that are part of the theme can be found from here.
Conflicting desires, fresh approaches, and exploration of boundaries
In the theme's films, desire is approached from various angles. Júlia Murat's Rule 34, winner of the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival, presents Simon, a law student who supports herself through sex work. In her studies, Simone focuses on advocating for women who have experienced domestic violence, but outside her studies, the erotically and violently tinted BDSM world lures her to go further and further.
In Fernando Franco's film The Rite of Spring, an unexpected relationship forms between Laura, who comes from a religious family, and David, who has cerebral palsy. In Valentina Maurel's I Have Electric Dreams, 16-year-old Eva confidently strides towards the adult world, encountering different substances, sex, and the bewildering complexity of the human psyche. Meanwhile, Eva's father goes through second adolescence and desperately seeks acceptance for himself and his art.
Hotel Shorts showcases short films from young filmmakers. The series tackles its theme with a refreshing and imaginative approach, and together the eight short films present a diverse selection of sexuality and desire.
Furthermore, in the films of Troublesome Desire we see a woman growing a horse’s tail (as happens in Ann Oren’s Piaffe), the uncomfortable facing of suppressed emotions and desires (As in Ulrich Seidl’s Sparta), the confrontation of inner demons (as Julián, the protagonist of Carlos Vermut’s film Manticore, must do) and much more!
Panel Discussion: Troublesome Desires
This year, Espoo Ciné delves into Troublesome Desires. How is sexuality, with all its contradictions and tensions, depicted in contemporary cinema? What kind of space is left for drama, complexity, and conflicts in a culture that yearns for empowerment and care in the representations of sexuality? Or is representing desire itself becoming a troublesome task? In this panel, we desire to stay with the trouble! The panelists include Swedish documentarist Mia Engberg (Belleville Trilogy), director Anna Paavilainen (Kikka!, Play Rape, Two Bodies on a Beach) as well as media scholar and professor of gender studies Anu Koivunen (University of Turku). The discussion will be held in English and moderated by film essayist and board member of Espoo Ciné, Tytti Rantanen. The discussion is in English.
After the discussion, we are delighted to welcome the guest artist, Draama-Helmi, who creates offbeat rap music about discomfort and desires. Draama-Helmi was awarded the Teosto Prize for her album Draama-Helmi kuistilla earlier this spring. This performance is in Finnish.
The panel discussion will be held at Kino Tapiola’s Terrace on Saturday 19 August at 6–7.30 pm. Free entry!
