MovieChat Forums > When Night Is Falling (1995) Discussion > love and sex

love and sex

posted 18 years ago by cine40
12 replies | jump to latest

cineaste 40

I think that Rozema is one of the most gifted and important directors of our time (and so is Sofia Coppola). I would love to hear your opinion of the following.

There are three "sexscenes" in this movie and I will talk about the first two of them. The first one shows Camille and Martin making love. It's very explicit, and I have a *very* strong feeling that Camille isn't really happy. There is a closeup of Camilles face when she says to Martin: "I love you". But to me, her eyes and her intonation of the words say:" I don't know if I love you -- this doesn't feel right". The whole scene shows that sex is something males *do to* females -- there is no tenderness, no caring, no reciprocity. It's not that Martin is rude or violent, it's just that his body isn't talking *with* hers, it talks *to* hers. I would say that he is "mildly" violent. He makes love *to* her – not *with* her.

The seccond "sexscene" is very different. Here we see Petra and Camille making love for the first time, and now the tone is totally different. Also this scene is very explicit, but now we see two minds and two bodies talking *with* eachother. Their movements, their way of holding and looking at eachother, everything shows *real* love: tenderness, caring and reciprocity. Yes they *do* have sex, but the *main* feeling is *love* -- true love -- not sex. That's why I put citationmarks on the word "sexscenes".

btw I am a straight male and always preferred and loved to live and work with women (which I still do).

[–] belley 18 years ago

well i truly agree with you cineaste40....there are real love,caring and tenderness happen during camille and petra 'sexscene'.im so excited the way their body movement and kissing scene too.tooooooooooo hottttttt tooooooo handle!.Gods! i love this movie very much.

[–] GorillazButter 18 years ago

The second sex scene was explicit? I must have the R version...

-
"Why does George Bush think Iraq has weapons of mass destruction?"
"Because he has the reciept"

[–] cine40 18 years ago

Yea, maybe you have, original runtime is 1 h 35 min.

But it sounds much more likely that you are trying to say that it wasn’t explicit enough to make you satisfied. Try pornography instead. Rozema doesn’t do that kind of work.

Why is it that men are so much more interested in women than women in men?
(Virginia Woolf).

[–] GorillazButter 18 years ago

WTF? I guess you were replying to someone else other than me. I find it funny how "I was trying to say it wasn't explicit enough" just by saying I might have the R version.

But then again I guess all men are pigs in your eyes.

-
"Why does George Bush think Iraq has weapons of mass destruction?"
"Because he has the reciept"

[–] Kold_Shadow 18 years ago

HAHAHA Yeah Gorilla stand up for our genre!!! Reverse sexual stereotyping is WRONG!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRr.

But yeah I'm about to launch the toffee colored toffee dispenser a few times.

Watching that scene.

NYa'h MEAN, bra?

PEACE OUT GORILLA.

If a machine, a Terminator can learn the value of a life, maybe we can too . . .

[–] ztami 18 years ago

[The seccond "sexscene" is very different. Here we see Petra and Camille making love for the first time, and now the tone is totally different. Also this scene is very explicit, but now we see two minds and two bodies talking *with* eachother. Their movements, their way of holding and looking at eachother, everything shows *real* love: tenderness, caring and reciprocity. Yes they *do* have sex, but the *main* feeling is *love* -- true love -- not sex. That's why I put citationmarks on the word "sexscenes". ]

I think the most powerful symbolism of the movie is during the scene when Petra and Camille make love in the tent with the trapeze artists practicing above them. Depending on my mood, I would be tied to debate which was more moving. They are parallelled, though - the movement of grace and the languid touches, mirrored and complimentary moves above that emphasize not just one participant, but both, as does the give and take between Petra and Camille; a strength and trust not to fall or be hurt. Truly making love to someone is putting your soul and body into her or his hands. That lovemaking scene with the trapeze dance above was, along with the dog/rebirth symbolism, the most breathtaking truth of the film. That is what wowwed me about it so much.

[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

Though this is years late, i would think the sex with the women would be not as good as it was for the first time when they get to the one hundredth time or more as we saw with the fiance, not trying to rain on your parade, but just keeping It real.

[–] city_slayer 12 years ago

Though i do believe the longer you are with some one you love, the better the sex gets, i dont believe that is true of every couple. If you are searching for more as she was, and finally find it with some one, the sex can be even better. As she said, "She answered a question that I didn't even have the words to." She longed to feel that magic, that moment of perfect clarity, and she found it with this lady.

To have true love, i believe you have to have passion for your lover, want them in every way it counts. That craving wasnt true of her relationship with her fiance, or else she would have made him her husband as he wanted.

"I have a head for business and a bod for Sin.."
"I'm not bad I'm just drawn that way!"

[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

Really get what you are saying, but we are sort of saying two different things. I am saying sex with a long time spouse/partner will not be as intense for one or both after so long. As to this movie it was new to her so anticipation and something totally different will be more of exciting then the same old usual. True love means they tolerate the good with the bad. In my opinion she did love the guy but simply bailed on him without much thinking on it even though I liked her with the gal. With most of these type of movies the couple never seem to relate what they need to there partner forcing one to suspend belief for the movie to work better.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

You say it may be cruel and and it is. You have loved this person for a long time and there is nothing wrong with breaking there heart in a compassionate way or at least try. That person deserves that. Then go and be happy but some people feel this is better way as you think of that person for the rest of your life. It is a painful memory if you are aware that person was left wounded. Verses you did try and let them down easy. Is it not better for the other person to not know why it happened one does not have to be specific. Maybe they will wish you well and like to see how you are doing later in life or maybe they want to become friends. I know you may feel she did not have to do anything and that is how you feel. And i respect that but for me a person like this is short sided and some may even be thoughtless. it's about finding a true love and leaving one you once had it with. They both should be or at least has tried and/or delivered with compassion to the jilted party. Just my opinion.

[–] 12 years ago

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