Café Flesh

Cafe Flesh is an adult movie. Let's make no mistake about it. The fact is, however, Cafe Flesh only contains hardcore explicit scenes because that is the only way Rinse Dream could get funding for his film. The concepts are straight out science fiction. The remarkable vision of Rinse Dream screams unique. Mitchell Froom's soundtrack just adds to the overall feel of the film. The writing is simply poetic. If you are a conscientious movie buff that likes to have your brain stimulated, please do yourself a favor and do not miss this movie. If you are just into porn, you may not even get wood. This is a story...a post-apocalyptic nightmarish world of sexual slaves, tortured souls, and the dynamic interpersonal developments that come out of a nuclear holocaust. Cafe Flesh is BRILLIANT. Kudos!

"Café Flesh" from 1982, directed by Stephen Sayadian (under the pseudonym Ragnar), is a film that defies convention and, for those with an open mind, offers a surprisingly profound and artistic cinematic experience. Far from being a mere adult film, "Café Flesh" is a bold and visionary work that deserves analysis beyond its explicit surface.

The film transports us to a post-apocalyptic future where a virus has stripped most of humanity of their capacity for physical pleasure, leaving them as "negatives". Only a few "positives" can still feel, and for them, the Café Flesh has been created-a theatre where they perform sexual acts for the entertainment of the negatives, who observe with a mixture of envy and repulsion.

A Striking Visual Feast: What sets "Café Flesh" apart is its striking visual aesthetic and audacious artistic direction. The cinematography is raw and stylised, using saturated colours and theatrical lighting to craft a dreamlike and unsettling atmosphere. Every frame is meticulously composed, evoking a sense of decay and despair, yet also a strange beauty. The costume and make-up designs are equally imaginative, transforming the actors into almost mythical figures within this dystopian world.

A Profound Allegory: Beyond the visuals, the film serves as a powerful allegory for art, desire, and human connection. Through its characters, "Café Flesh" explores the nature of performance and voyeurism, questioning what it means to feel and what it means to create art in a world that has lost its capacity for intimacy. The explicit acts aren't gratuitous; they serve as a means to delve into deeper themes of sexuality, alienation, and the search for meaning in a desolate world. The film suggests that even in the grimmest circumstances, artistic expression and the pursuit of emotional connection persist.

A Must-See for the Open-Minded: While its explicit nature might not appeal to everyone, "Café Flesh" is a fascinating example of experimental cinema that dares to be both provocative and thoughtful in equal measure. For those seeking a cinematic experience that goes beyond the conventional and is willing to challenge their perceptions, this cult film offers a unique and memorable vision. It's a work that stays with you long after the credits roll, prompting reflection on art, the body, and the soul.

This is the best of best, or the less pathetic porn movie (that depends on your view).

It is so good that precisely the only flaw point in the whole movie are the unnecessary long hardcore scenes, surely made by pressure from the producers.

This movie has little of everything, scify, fantasy, sexual dreams, drama, comedy, good shows, good photography, good acting, amateur acting, low budget look, exceptional atmosphere, some very high stetics points, lots of psychological and conceptual ideas, etc.

The ending of the story is also a very high point. One of the best endings that I have seen on cinema.

In brief, if you like art get this movie, cut all the unnecessary hardcore out, and you will get a little gem.

A disturbing, dark story set in a post-apocalyptic world where the majority of people have been rendered sex negative - they become violently ill when they attempt any sexual activity, even kissing. These unfortunates enjoy sex vicariously through live sex performance art staged at special clubs, where the rare "sex positives" are forced into a sort of sexual gladiatorial status, partly slaves, and partly celebrities.

The story centers on a couple of Cafe Flesh sex negative regulars, and their sad obsession with the club lifestyle.

The best acting performance in the film is Andy Nichols as Max, the mean-spirited emcee at the club who likes to taunt the audiences he is there to entertain, and stirs up trouble whenever he can. The sex scenes are not romantic, but they are imaginative and highly choreographed, with creative and surreal sets. Great camera work, an excellent soundtrack, surprisingly good acting, and some hot sex as well. It's a real good example of how a good porno movie SHOULD be. Very worthwhile

Definitely worth watching.

Here in the UK many films with explicit sexual acts are being passed with an 18 (but not adult) rating in their uncut format, providing the sex is within context to the piece. Cafe flesh, the epitome of late 70s early 80s porn is probably one that would pass with glowing colours.

What makes this film so extraordinary is it tackles themes that are interesting beyond pornography that probably couldn't be expressed any other way. Mainly it's focus is on sexual frustration, but also inadequacy and betrayal are taken in.

The story follows a rag tag band of nuclear war survivors who can no longer make love. Sexual contact makes them feel violently sick (the negatives). A lucky few (the positives) are forced to perform sex acts on stage as entertainment for the negatives.

Enter Nick, a negative ex football star, and his negative girlfriend Lana. They spend their nights watching the action at cafe flesh wallowing in their own self pity at being sexually incapable ....except...! Lana is really positive and hiding the fact to stay with the man she loves. When sleazy club compere Max discovers this, he antagonises Nick and entices Lana until she eventually is brought out of the audience and onto the stage by desire and sexual need. The final shot of Nick, crouched down and distraught while the club laughs at his inadequacies, his girlfriend being screwed on stage willingly, and with Max revelling in Nicks failure as a man, gives an emotional kick of considerable force you wont forget quickly.

As it stands, the technical film making skill is at the poor end, the production values are low, and even the best DVD transfer is cheesy to say the least. But that doesn't matter as the strength of ideas and the emotional jolt it gives you seems far too talented for a sci-fi porn romp. The sex is normal, short, and played by ordinary people with lumps and bumps, not like the glossy super babe pictures of today. If you're expecting an earth shattering porn movie you may be disappointed.

A very interesting film.