Sex Is Comedy (2002)

A director struggles to film a difficult, intimate sex scene between two actors who happen to hate each other.

Director:

Catherine Breillat

Writer:

Catherine Breillat

Stars:

Anne Parillaud, Grégoire Colin, Roxane Mesquida

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anne Parillaud	...	Jeanne
Grégoire Colin	...	The Actor
Roxane Mesquida	...	The Actress
Ashley Wanninger	...	Leo, the first assistant
Dominique Colladant	...	Willy
Bart Binnema	...	Director of Photography
Yves Osmu	...	The sound engineer
Elisabete Piecho	...	Continuity Girl
Francis Selleck	...	Production Manager (as Francis Seleck)
Diane Scapa	...	The production designer
Ana Lorena	...	The make-up artist
Claire Monatte	...	The other make-up artist (as Claire Monnatte)
Arnaldo Junior	...	The chief electrician
Elisabete Silva	...	The boom operator
Júlia Fragata	...	The set dresser

Storyline

Jeanne is a director struggling with a difficult sex scene between two actors who can't stand each other. Aided by her loyal assistant Leo, Jeanne is hell-bent on getting the scene right without compromise. Inspired by Breillat's own experiences (particularly those in "Fat Girl"), "Sex is Comedy" explores the comedy of social manipulations, sex and power that takes place within the confines of a film set.

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Plot Keywords:

sex | actor | director | film set | male frontal nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content including graphic nudity and dialogue

Details

Official Sites:

IFC Official Site [France]

Country:

France Portugal

Language:

French Portuguese

Release Date:

5 June 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

A szex komédia

Filming Locations:

Portugal

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,370 (USA) (22 October 2004)

Gross:

$40,274 (USA) (14 January 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CB Films, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jeanne: Words are the best chastity belt there is.

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Connections

Referenced in Brows Held High: The Anatomy of Hell (2012)

User Reviews

All about a director directing a film and little more.

"Sex is Comedy" is an open ended light drama about a film director, Parillaud (Nikita), working on a film toward the sex scene between her young male and female leads. There's no story in this film which simply shows how a director might work with her cast and crew while trying to squeeze, cajole, or otherwise evoke the nuances she desires from the a recalcitrant male lead and his reluctantly willing partner while wrangling cameras and crews and the foibles which beset a film director at work. This film conjures some insights into what being a film director involves and the hard work required of cast and crew while making a film and, I suppose, the techniques and methods of this film's director, Brelliat. There are similarities between the sex scene in this film and that in another Brelliat film, "Fat Girl", which is little more than noteworthy. "Sex is Comedy" doesn't walk on the edge of pornography as do other Brelliat films and will be of most interest to those interested in film direction Brelliat style. (B-)