Addiction

I really enjoyed this film and I agree with the reviewer who said that you can't just put in plot twists for the sake of it. The issue of addiction and its destructive power was dealt with very well and to overplay it or make it more 'sensational' would devalue the issues that were raised within the film.

It was interesting to see an addiction like this from a female point of view for a change, and it was good to see a woman with a life like an advert descend into an addiction that could undo all the work she had put in to having a life that we all supposedly dream of (marriage, 2.4 kids, beautiful house, great career, plenty of money). And in this day and age of product placement, do we really care that they drove Audi cars?

Jonna Luoto (Mi Grönlund) is a successful executive in an advertising agency and has a perfect marriage with the workaholic constructor Niklas Luoto (Nicke Lignell). They live in a comfortable house with their two children and Jonna is very close to her sister, the artist Sanna (Saija Lentonen), who has problematic relationships with her lovers. However, Niklas does not satisfy the sex drive of Joanna that is addicted in sex and she has casual sex with strangers. When Jonna meets the sportsman born in silver spoon Aleksi (Jasper Pääkkönen), she has a love affair with the spoiled man, affecting her personal and professional lives. Meanwhile, her client and TV sex therapist Nora (Amira Khalifa) identifies her problem and offers to help Jonna to control her sex drive. But like any addicted, Jonna believes she can control her sexual impulses and refuses Nora's offer.

"Levottomat 3" is a sensual but never vulgar drama about a woman that has her life destroyed by her sex addiction. The engaging and erotic story has a good screenplay and performances of an unknown cast. The sexy and gorgeous Mi Grönlund is perfect in the role of a nymphomaniac mother and wife that does not recognize her problem and is ashamed to talk with her beloved husband about her sex drive. I bought this DVD a long time ago but the unfair IMDb User Rating had not encouraged me to watch this Finnish film. Yesterday late night I decided to watch it to help me to sleep and on the contrary, I saw "Levottomat 3" until the very last funny scene in the credits. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Ninfomaníaca – Sexo Sem Culpa" ("Ninphomaniac – Sex without Guilty")

I disagree with the previous reviewer's comments on the script. The film is well written; the dialogue simple, real and without ostentatiousness. It's a personal drama and the script reflects that. It's not the kind of film to throw in twists for the sake of plot interest. It's an exploration of one woman's descent into her addiction: slowly, gradually, and with full knowledge of where she's headed, we watch her life disintegrate. That's what happens with addiction. The low-key nature of this film is what makes it so good. The direction is stylish yet simple, and complements the script very well. How much worse to over-dramatise what is already highly dramatic subject matter?

I disagree with the previous reviewer about the ads.. I think the product placement in this movie is done with a good taste and it's not too obvious compared to many other movies.

Anyway, the movie itself could have been so much better with a better script. The movie is well-directed, actors are good and good-looking, atmosphere is fitting, and basically all the elements for a good film are there - BUT the script is totally unoriginal, predictable and boring. The screenwriter should have included some surprising twists to the plot. As it is, it resembles more a propaganda film for conservative moralists than an entertaining, fictional movie.

I am a huge fan of European film making, and it is often hard in the UK to see some of the great films that are doing the rounds in Europe. I was lucky enough to catch this film on DVD as it was recommended to me by a friend. I am really glad that I did, I totally enjoyed it, yes it has flaws but I think the subject matter was innovative and new - how many films can say that? Bravo for tackling the theme of sex addiction from a women's perspective! Solid well written script, great acting (if you can ignore the therapists performance) and quiet beautifully shot (if you can ignore the rather tacky TV show snippets at the end credits) I highly recommend this film - but I guess it's just one of those films that you will either love or hate - thankfully I can say I LOVED IT!