Set Me Free (Emporte-Moi) (1999)

   I'll go ahead and admit as a bad filmgoer and reviewer that I have never seen "Vivre Sa Vie" ("My Life to Live") by Jean-Luc Godard, and I considered watching it to get some perspective before reviewing "Set Me Free." "Set Me Free," though not directly related to "Vivre Sa Vie" thematically, is the story of a frustrated young girl who becomes fascinated with the prostitute character, Nana, is Godard's classic.

   It's also about growing up. And sexual awakening. And youthful confusion. And the moment as a child when you realize that you can't save the grown-ups in your life; sometimes, you can only help them along while they choose to sink or swim, to fight against the current, or drown. It's about the way movies influence young people, and how it's often the one's you wouldn't expect that change their ideology, for better or worse.

   Hanna (Katrine Vanasse) is a knowing yet naive 13-year-old who lives with her thief brother, Holocaust survivor father, and suicidally depressed mother in France. The year is 1963. Her father (Predrag Manjlovic) has a iron grip on the household. On the other hand her mother (Pascale Bussières) is as submissive and weak as her father is dominating. In an opening scene, Hanna gets her first period near her grandparent's house, and shortly after goes back home to her parent's.

   While she was hardly happy at her grandma and grandad's, things go from bad to worse at home. Her dad is a pretentious, lofty, and generally bad writer who fancies himself a great artist, and her mom is one twitch away from a complete nervous breakdown. Her brother Paul is a petty thief. In an opening act of general assholery, Hanna's father spits at her mother that her's is 'mongoloid family' because her brother (Hanna's Uncle Martin) has Down Syndrome (I told myself that 'Mongoloid' was not such an offensive term back in the 60's, but nah, it's still not excusable.)

   When Hanna goes to the theater and sees "Vivre Sa Vie" for the first time, she falls in love- with the movies, Anna Karina, and with Karina's 'glamorous' character. From what I saw of the film within this film she is totally misreading the message of the movie, as her teacher tries to point out. But as a confused kid (sexually and in life) looking for a role model, it makes sense.

   Boy, did the child actor knock it out of the park here! Hanna was a sweetheart. From what I understand, the child actress was sixteen when she did this movie, and in fact, she looks childlike in some shots and more womanly in others, probably a intentional decision on the part of the director. Hanna's father insists on masculinizing his daughter, cropping her hair down to boy length (the hair-cutting scene reminds me of the one in "Ma Vie En Rose.") As Dad cuts, a silent tear runs down Hanna's cheek, and she gradually is made to feel a little more helpless.

   Hanna propositions a man, maybe in hopes for a normal life or because it is the 'thing to do' as a girl, but exchanges intimate kisses with a female friend (Charlotte Christeler.) Does that mean she is bi, simply confused, or something else. Fed up with her family, Hanna runs away, but will a life on the streets be easier or harder than she was looking for?

    The acting was fabulous, but I wished the ending had offered a little more. There seemed to be a real lack of realization, and everything get's better quite abruptly. What was learned, except that being a ho' isn't all it's cut out to be? It's nice to have a happy ending for such a lovely character, but the story doesn't seem to have the most logical conclusion.

   "Set Me Free" is well made and most of all bittersweet and sad. It's is based on the director Lea Pool's life, so that makes it this much more authentic. I would love to know if filmmaker Lea Pool is gay, because that would shine a light to better understand the sexual elements of this movie. Note- You can watch this on Huluplus. Otherwise it is not available on DVD as far as I know. I hope you get the chance to watch this powerful film. Thank you.
                                                                             Rating-
                                                                                   8.5/10

The Piano Teacher (2001)

 Unsettling and provocative, "The Piano Teacher" is at once a study of the lives of deeply unhappy people and a commentary on the dangers of repression. It's not pretty or pleasant, but one can expect nothing less from controversial Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke. He shines an unyielding light on his character's perversions, prejudices, and desires.

   The piano teacher of the title, Erika (impressively portrayed by Isabelle Huppert) is an aging spinster living with her crazy-domineering mother (Annie Girardot,) who still treats her like she is a girl on the cusp of puberty, who needs to be nettled and looked after constantly. They fight viciously, share the same bed, and there's an incestuous subtext going on. Even when that subtext is confirmed, we still can scarcely believe it.

   Erika is a very lonely and repressed soul, but she's not a particularly sympathetic character. She is cruel, petty, sexually aggressive, and at one point inexplicably maims a promising student's hand with shards of glass. However, it is impossible not to feel sorry for her at some point. She is an extremely hard character to read, and her seeming lack of emotion puzzles us deeply.

 We are given virtually no backstory on Erika at all- her father is locked up in an asylum somewhere, and she and her mother have long be entangled in a sick, co-dependent relationship. That is all. When Erika meets Walter Klemmer (Benoît Magimel,) he pursues her, but neither of them know what they're in for. They promptly head down the path of Sadomasochism and mind games.

   I was surprised that this was categorized on my favorite site as 'erotica.' Frankly put, this is not in the least bit erotic and has some of the most unsexy sex scenes for a film containing so many. "The Piano Teacher" is not unlike "Shame" by Steve McQueen in that respect. There is no joy or virility in the 'love' scenes, even the consensual sex has a not only clinical but aggressive feel to it as well.

   Isabelle Huppert is fabulous here, and Susanne Lothar (late, great actress and one of the only good things about Haneke's pretentious bore-fest "Funny Games") has a small part as the mother of one of Erika's students whose distinct lack of warmth mirrors Erika's mother's own.

   I wish Walter's character had been developed a little more. He exists simply to pursue Erika's character for one half of the movie and brutalize her emotionally and physically for the other. If his motivations had been considered more thoroughly, and his attraction to Erika better explained, the movie would have been better.

   There's a lot of ambiguity and subtext in Haneke's films, and "The Piano Teacher" is no exception. This ambiguity is both a gift and a curse, as it is endlessly frustrating but also intriguing and may command multiple viewings. There were some thoroughly 'What the Fuck' moments as well, for example when Erika urinates on the ground of the drive-in theater.

   "The Piano Teacher" contains some distinctly 'Haneke'-esque annoyances like superfluous long takes but the film is startlingly adept in its power and never betrays itself with Hollywood B.S. or an inappropriately upbeat ending. Ultimately it is as as it's as enigmatic as it's heroine but less weirdly naive- it knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything else. Worth watching.
                                                   Rating-
                                                7.0/10

Turn Me On, Dammit (2011)

What originally starts out as the Anti-Hollywood teen sex film ends in a cop out when 15-year-old Alma gives up her self-respect and *MILD SPOILER* gets together with a loser. This development strains credulity, not to mention the message is appalling -- if you can't find a suitable boyfriend, girls, remember ... it's better to be with a d**k than to be alone.

   Alma (Helene Bergsholm) copes with her small-town ennui by engaging in an active fantasy life, where everyone she encounters is a potential mate. Yes, Alma has hormones that would put the cast of "American Pie" to shame, but that's where the "Pie..." similarities end.

   Alma's troubles really start when a boy she likes, Arter (Matias Myren) rubs his d**k against her at a party, then denies it when she excitedly tells her friends. Queen b**ch Ingrid (Beate Støfring,) who wants Arter for herself, turns Alma's classmates against her and almost overnight Alma goes from well-liked student to school outcast.

Simple Sexy Food

Simple Sexy Food: 101 Aphrodisiac Recipes and Sensual Tips to Stir Your Libido and Feed Your Love by Linda De Villers, PhD

I was excited to receive this book, and I have been enjoying perusing the recipes -- it is full of such diverse dishes as lobster guacamole, spicy tuna sushi rolls, spiced pumpkin pancakes, red lentil soup with ghee-infused croutons, and chocolate mousse with brandied whipped cream. Most of the recipes offered in this book seem nutritious and they all look tasty.

This book also offers a different twist -- it looks at the use of aphrodisiacs, in cooking, to spark your sex life and enhance sexual health. It includes a lengthy alphabetical list of  foods, including spices, said to have aphrodisiac qualities, looking at both the history and folklore and the proven health benefits. The recipes incorporate these foods, and they include appetizers, entrees, salads, desserts, and cocktails.

From the Publisher:

Do aphrodisiacs work? What exactly are they? How can I use them? We answer these questions and many more during the Simple Sexy Food virtual tour with clinical sex therapist and foodie – Linda De Villers, PhD. There are many ordinary foods that can have aphrodisiac effects – and we’re going to help you understand them. 

Linda De Viller, PhD, Clinical Sex Therapist and Foodie, shares her knowledge about the myths and truth about aphrodisiacs. She also share over 80 recipes and a wealth of love and sex tips. Get your copy at - http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Sexy-Food-Linda-Villers/dp/097095655X/. We invite you to participate in the Simple Sexy Food Recipe Photo Contest - http://www.lovecoachjourney.com/recipe-photo-contest - the grand prize winner will get a one on one aphrodisiac consultation and five runner ups will receive a digital copy of Love Skills by Linda De Villers. 

About Linda DeVillers PhD –

Linda De Villers has more than 20 years of experience as a sex and relationship expert. Dr. De Villers is regarded as an expert in the study of aphrodisiacs. She was a featured expert in a Discovery Channel Health program (2006) on 10 sexual myths, including the myth that aphrodisiacs don’t exist. In an academic setting, she has researched and presented on related topics.