Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (1981)

Director:

Bonnie Sherr Klein

Writers:

Andrée Klein (writer)
Bonnie Sherr Klein (writer)

Release Date:

11 June 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Documentary about the pornography industry and the apparent violent anti-woman slant much of it takes.

Plot Keywords:

Pornography | Sex Show | Oral Sex | Anti Sexual | Red Riding Hood

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Linda Lee Tracey	...	Herself, Stripper 'Fonda Peters'
Bonnie Sherr Klein	...	Herself (as Bonnie Klein)
Suze Randall	...	Herself, Photographer
Kate Millett	...	Herself, Writter / Artist
David S. Wells	...	Himself, Editor / Publisher
Marc Stevens	...	Himself, Porn Actor
Ron Martin	...	Herself, Producer
Richard Snowdon	...	Himself, Member of Men Against Male Violence
Patrica Lucas	...	Herself, Sex Show Performer
Rick Lucas	...	Himself, Sex Show Performer
Robin Morgan	...	Herself, Poet / Writer
Kenneth Pitchford	...	Herself, Poet / Writer
Susan Griffin	...	Herself, Author of 'Pornography and Silence'
Edward Donnerstein	...	Himself, Research Psychologist (as Dr. Ed Donnerstein)
Kathleen Barry	...	Herself, Poet / Writer

Also Known As:

C'est surtout pas de l'amour - Un film sur la pornographie (Canada: French title)
Not a Love Story (Canada: English title) (short title)
Not a Love Story: A Motion Picture About Pornography (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:(Banned) (Ontario) | Canada:18+ (Québec) | Australia:R | Sweden:15 | Canada:(Banned) (Saskatchewan) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | UK:X (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Trivia:

Linda Lee Tracey felt she was portrayed inaccurately in the film. She viewed her work as a stripper as a positive, liberating pursuit. Her anger inspired her to begin her own career as a documentary producer and reporter.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Susan Griffin: "Hustler" magazine, which is a pornographic magazine, had a Valentine's Day issue in February. There's a glossy red cover, and there's a woman on the cover and she's wearing chains. She's semi-nude of course, she wearing chains and one of those collars around her neck, and she has glasses in the shapes of hearts. Pornography reveals itself, its real purpose, you know, there you have the heart imprisoned, the heart on its knees, you know, and if necessary the heart rendered silent.

Movie Connections:

References The White Buffalo (1977)

Soundtrack:

Piece of My Heart

Chilling

I caught this documentary at a small art house cinema back in 1981. There was no rating but you had to be over 18 to be admitted. I have never forgotten it.

It's about pornography and how it degrades women. They specifically target porno films where women are tied up and used. To make their point they do have to show clips from these films--and they're just revolting. I have nothing against porn--but not when it's violent and people are being tied up or forced.

They also talk to people who run porno shops and women who perform sex acts live. The most interesting interview I remember was when they talked to a wife and husband who preformed live sex acts to each other on stage (she's white, he's black). She actually defends what she's doing quite well and had me believing her! Just fascinating with hardcore sex--but it IS necessary for the integrity of the film. It's also horrifying that some people enjoy this sort of "entertainment". Hard to find--it deserves wide distribution. A 10.