A History of Sex

Not a documentary about sex, but rather a documentary on controversial New York photographer Andres Serrano, this independent film follows the contentious artist around as he fixes photo shoots for a sex-themed exhibition. The film also divulges Serrano's background, particularly the stir he caused by shooting a crucifix in a tank of urine in the 1980s. Serrano does not talk much to the camera but through interviews with his associates, the fascination that some have with his work comes across. One associate memorably pegs it is as "being seduced by something one doesn't want to look at". Whether Serrano is just controversial for the sake of it or whether he has something to say is debatable, but something he mentions about disliking contradictions such as a "church that faces a bunch of brothels" resonates. For all its intriguing content, the documentary is nevertheless compromised by lots of grainy video footage. Scenes also tend to linger on Serrano setting shots up while mumbling to his assistants - something that affects the film's pacing. There are, however, sufficient truly unexpected images throughout to keep one transfixed. A lot of drive comes from wondering what shocking thing he will do next; e.g. what appears to simply be a shoot of a mother breastfeeding her baby in a dilapidated church soon turns out to be more. The equally controversial John Waters also has a fun meeting with Serrano late in the piece. Nick Broomfield's amazing 'Fetishes' this documentary is not, but there is something curious about it, fragmented and patchy as it may be.