Burning Passion

If it weren't so damn funny, this would be one of those really heavy message films: dealing with male sexual identity, the permanence of love, and the exploration of sex as an act of violence rather than an act of love. But it is so damn funny.

A guy finds out that he has this, um, problem, and that his problem involves flaming gism. He's afraid he'll kill the girl of his dreams if he has sex with her, so he ditches her at the altar. Next thing you know, he's killed hundreds of prostitutes. He's a priest, she's a nun. She shows up and convinces him that there's a difference between f*%$king and making love and that if he really loves her, nothing will happen. Sure enough, love conquers all and they live happily ever after. Until he falls out of love. I get the whole symbolism thing, but what's amazing about this movie is that it isn't heavy-handed and serious like most arty films with a message. In fact, it's a riot. Somebody needs to tell that Scorsese dude to watch this thing. And then lighten up.

I don't want to give away the sexual problem of the lead. You have to see it to believe it, but it is funny.

This film takes a very black comedy premise and presents it in a dramatic way. It could be funnier if done as a pure black comedy, but it has an interesting feel with the dramatic angle on the preposterously funny setup.

i liked this film a lot but the darkness of the lead character took a bit away from the comedy. its not a straight comedy. the subject matter if not ofr the hyperbolic premise would be too dark and the main character too unlikable. however the director takes this very dark subject and explores all he funny angles to it. the audience and i at the screening i attended took a little while to get it and warm to the subject matter but once we did we were richly rewarded with this twisted take on modern societies fixation of safe sex and the ultimate in unsafe sex. the director leaves us with a sad ending but very appropriate for the actions taken by the lead.

This is a movie about a guy who ejaculates flames. A comedy. But where a lot of comedies take an inane premise and kind of vamp on it, this film actually has a magnificent structure.

The filmmaker obviously likes to toy with parallels. The hero's life has two major turning points, and both are heralded by a verbal ejaculation that refers to the particular activity that causes his ultimate destruction. And the sequence in which the hero falls in love is paralleled beautifully by one in which he falls back in love.

But what makes this movie so wonderful are the subtle touches: The picture on the desk of the priest in the scene in which he counsels the couple. The nun eating a green M&M while she seductively asks the priest why he never slept with her. The honeymoon in Hawaii--how apropos, given the hero's ejaculatory problem. Even the way the hero holds the cigarette in bed. It's a wonderful touch.

Obviously, whoever made this film has immense talent. I'd like to see more of his work.