The Year I Started Masturbating (2022) Poster

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5/10
You have not seen it, but it feels like you have...
Airman873 June 2023
Ultimately, the film is a slow downward spiral until the third act's climax and tone shift. For what it lacks in originality, and the stereotypical tropes of female empowerment and middle age crisis it repetitively falls into, it makes up for with some lighthearted humor. I would caution to say it's an interesting character study, as much of the narrative is too predictable. This film is perhaps slightly more polished and mature than your typical Romcom is, though likely just as satiable for that target audience. There is little to like in this movie, which is why I would recommend to skip it.
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5/10
Cute Chickflick with a Silly Message
justoneslave3 June 2023
My wife picked this movie, and we enjoyed it for the most part. It's a comedy, but it's not hilarious funny. It has a few good cringe moments. The main character is believable and likeable. In general, I believe this movie was made for women, which is a bit unfortunate. The male characters are weak, whiny, and manipulative. Apparently, men are the single biggest problem in women's life. This message becomes painfully obvious in the last few minutes of the movie. This is a rather silly point of view, but it wouldn't have bothered me much, if they didn't push it so hard at the very end. If "the message" doesn't bother you, and you enjoy cringe comedy, then I would give it a shot.
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6/10
we all get those bumps in the road
ksf-211 July 2023
On netflix as "the year i started masturbating ". In swedish, it's Året jag slutade prestera och började onanera, which translates to the year I stopped performing and started masturbating. Hanna is thinking about having another child, but.. surprise! She gets dumped instead! So much for all her plans. And hanna had just quit her job, like morten wanted her to do. It's kind of a dark comedy. Some funny bits, but also much sadness and darkness in her life right now. What will ever get her life back on track? She meets liv, who has a whole different outlook on life. Liv gives hanna some pretty good advice, and won't let her wallow. Interesting. Some drama, some funny moments. Some very adult language in this, so definitely not for the younger set! Directed by erika wasserman. Her second film direction. She has produced a bunch of films.
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2/10
Totally misleading title
opotraining1 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Very basic story without any comedy. The main character quits her high paying job for relationship but then downfall occurs everywhere. In almost 3/4 of the movie , she is shown as loser without any money even for food. Then she meets a woman who suggested her to satisfy using toys and then everything becomes good in her life. Gets her high paying job back. All her problems gets solved after this. Everyone who left her comes back to her. She just does it twice in whole movie. All characters are forgettable. Just adding some more text to fill the character limit. Another 30 characters needed now.
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6/10
Love yourself
kosmasp2 June 2023
No pun intended - the international title is telling is what the main character is discovering ...on her journey or whatever you want to call it. Of course the movie is more than that .. and don't expect it to be .. well if you are looking to be ... satisfied on a erotic front ... you probably should watch something completely different. Just saying - otherwise you'd be disappointed.

More or less like the main character is at the beginning. You can plan things, but you can never know all the things that may hit you. Life is a ... well you know what. So ... enjoy while you can - maybe not during working hours of course. On the other hand, that would enlighten many ... and give a new spin and ramp up the temperature and all that ... all kidding aside, the movie has some issues with the pacing and the mood it tries to convey ... but it is quite nice ... also has an interesting message ... and a good one.
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3/10
Unconventional Messaging
danielflorida16 September 2023
The film begins on a promising note, offering some genuinely humorous moments. However, as it progresses, it becomes increasingly predictable, relying on repetitive humor scenarios in which the central character, Hanna, finds herself in embarrassing situations.

One of the central questions raised by the film is its underlying message. Initially, Hanna is depicted as a character with significant flaws - she neglects her family's needs, makes major financial decisions unilaterally, and appears emotionally distant. Towards the film's conclusion, she declares that she won't change who she is, and others should accept her for it.

This choice is somewhat perplexing, as it misses an opportunity for a more intriguing reversal of stereotypes, where a female character could be portrayed as a workaholic instead of the traditional male figure. Moreover, it departs from the common theme found in many films that emphasize the importance of family. In this case, the movie conveys a somewhat contradictory message, suggesting that individual desires should take precedence, and others should unquestioningly accept one's behavior. This message strikes an unusual and somewhat perplexing chord, at least in my interpretation.
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7/10
Enjoyable
bertel-349-50907113 October 2023
I don't think this will win an Oscar in any category, it's does not touch new ground, and it is in no way perfect.

But it is quite enjoyable entertainment for its 100 minutes, it is fun and it is sympathetic.

Yes, the men is all a bit silly and the cause of all the problems woman have. And the women are all, at least in the end, warm hearted and good. But we have seen the opposite in movies after move, without anyone noticing; it is refreshing to see the feminine as the good for a change.

I doubt that you will watch this for the strong characters and how the actors manifest these characters, but they all fill their role as they should.

So, forget the troubles for a while, and enjoy.
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2/10
Swedish humor doesn't always translate well
qui_j7 June 2023
This is your typical "Chick Flick", feminist, female empowerment movie, targeted to a very specific audience. The plot is all over the place, with dialog that is very explicit, and orgasmic scenes that appear to also in that vein. The ultimate result is boredom. The outcome is a predictable one, after the usual journey of self discovery and renaissance. The lead character comes out the other end as an strong independent female, one who has rediscovered her new power and new self. It will probably resonate well with its target audience, but certainly would not have wide audience appeal. The humor works at time, especially if one is familiar with that country's culture!
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1/10
Lame
MutterCourage2 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
What is this mess supposed to be? Funny it's not. Forced and trying too hard this week directorial debut demonstrates that it takes more than a cute title to make a real film. This feels more like a mediocre episode of lame tv comedy tv series than an actual feature film. The script is so weak and underdeveloped you want to cry out - can somebody please tell these filmmakers they need to up their game. Who thought this director was ready to make a debut as fear filmmaker?! It's so repetitive and dreadful at the start one wonders who thought anybody would care about these paperthin characters. You don't care. They don't care. Who cares? And don't get me started with the music!
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10/10
Excellent Movie
bostockleigh-7591831 May 2023
Contrary to some other reviews, I found this movie hilarious and uplifting. Masturbation does feature, obviously, and it's up to the viewer to decide whether to take it literally or metaphorically - either way, it works. We follow the main character through what should be the most depressing period of her life, during which time circumstance forces her into the company of people she'd never have ordinarily met, all of whom enrich her life, while at the same time she re-evaluates her existing relationships from a new perspective. They say when you hit rock-bottom, the only way is up, and she rises like an surprised Phoenix from the ashes. If you do take my advice and watch this lovely movie - watch the credits to the very end.
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3/10
Almost Unwatchable
tkdlifemagazine3 July 2023
This is an absolutely terrible picture. The characters are just so unkind and repugnant they made me sick, throughout. I am not sure if this is supposed to be a comedy or a drama- but it is actually neither.. It is poorly scripted. It is poorly acted. It is poorly filmed and poorly Directed. It really has no redeeming qualities, although the lead actress is somewhat sympathetic; however, she is mostly pathetic. As my exposure to Swedish films is limited to some classics, I don't know if this is typical, or atypical; however, I would not rush to see another one anytime soon. This seemed twice as long as it actually was.
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2/10
Pointless and nonsensical
teofilraileanu31 August 2023
This movie script must have been written by some of the laziest... something, anything... but not writers. Besides the usual feminism BS that is flooding the screen nowadays (with the usual bumbling idiots, aka man) there is so very little that makes any sense in this movie. There's no structure, no actual progress, just feelings and life changing advices received by what a seems a successful women from another one she accidentally met, some extremely reliable person that is passing thru life hopping from meaningless job to another (bar keeper, dogs walker, some sort of a fitness instructor and the sort).
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8/10
Funny and enjoyable movie
denappel11 July 2023
This movie is an excellent example that you shoudn't always care about other people's rates and reviews. It's funny, sometimes close to over the top, but it balances quite good. The story is about that it's not always easy to maintain a good balance between being ambitious in your job, having a good loving relationship and raising a child together, and at times you can fail in all three of them. Yet when you hit rock bottom, you can have new encounters that open you up for new perspectives and dealing with life. Sometimes life is dealing with the lows and keep trying your best. If you can relate to this you probably like this movie better. I watched it with my wife and it made us laugh and relax.
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8/10
... for those liking this production... they really-like-it
bjarias30 August 2023
... there's lots to get hung up on about in this movie, if you got issues with what there's lots to get hung up on... but regardless, the film is funny at lots of points... really-funny... Katia Winter is just soooo natural in these films.... 'Ur-spar' another where she just excels, making the film far better than expected

... one film-critic putting-it.. "a Swedish gem that dances between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Director Erika Wasserman takes us on a roller-coaster ride of relatable emotions, exploring themes of motherhood, relationships, and the quest for happiness. While the film may not tickle every viewer's funny bone as expected, its talented cast and breathtaking scenery are undeniably captivating."

... maybe it's just something society lets men get-away-with much more often-readily than women... too-bad... this here's one-fun-streaming-experience.
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