Paixão e Sedução

Since you will have already read the plot by now, let me just say this movie was a lot of fun! I rate it much higher than the other folks on imdb.com The taxi driver, the refrigerator scene, and the final airport scene all brought big smiles to my face. Not a movie for the kids - see it with a close friend.

The only bad thing I can say about this film is the fact that it took nearly four years for it to reach the US. The tag line pretty much sums it up -- what was intended as a one night stand turns into more than the participants expect. Sexy -- definitely (I may never look at wildlife documentaries quite the same way again); funny -- in many places hilarious, especially when examining the Mars/Venus aspect of burgeoning relationships (toilet seats, dressing time); and surprisingly sweet. The stars are charming, attractive and very real, and are ably supported by the rest of the cast, particularly the actress (whose name I now can't remember, my apologies!) who plays the cabbie who doubles as a relationship counselor.

There's a saying that life is what happens when you're busy making plans -- perhaps love is what can happen when you're busy having sex, if you let it. Well worth your time, and share it with a friend.

I've just returned home from seeing the movie and well I cannot disagree with the previous few comments - it is very good.

Being an Ozzie I enjoyed David Wenham's performances on the TV series Seachange for instance but always found him a bit uncertain in his character - a point to which many women apparently disagree. I preferred his scabrous performances in Cosi and Boys for instance. But this film has expanded my appreciation of David - here he excels himself in a role Seachange fans will recognise, as a similar laid back very witty guy. Suzie Porter is a bubble of energy.

The two characters do have a chemistry and the sex scenes are very realistic without being revealing. They also have the usual neuroses - I loved the initial thoughts when they were in the taxi, at first daring themselves to start something and wondering if the other person was interested and then starting to worry about what they could be getting themselves into - all in the space of a minute without a word exchanged between them

I also loved the taxi driver - a very wise woman - who guides Josh through the stages of his developing relationship - telling him what she (Cin) is feeling and encouraging him to reveal his thoughts - almost as if she was a spider on the wall!

My slight disagreeances were Josh's departure outside the comforts of Cin's place to think etc (it jarred) and sometimes the music was overpowering but these are small quibbles.

Anyway highly recommended!

This is a great investigation into the challenge of having a merely sexual relationship with someone without letting emotions come into it. But, eventually emotions come into it because sex is more than just the release of biological urges. The two main characters Josh and Cin are perfectly portrayed by their players David and Susie. I'm sure they would have put a bit of themselves into their roles. The toughest part would have been filming the sex scenes and for the director filming the scenes without a hint of pornography. My rating: 8/10

This film is simple in plot line---the growth from a one-night stand of a relationship that is expected to end as one party has to leave in a few days---but manages to build the characters with a mixture of soliloquy, quick comment from friends, reaction to fast sexual progression, and so on. It gives the feeling that it was once a stage play, but does not suffer for this. It has a few amusing weird bits, like the taxi driver. It is no blockbuster, but it is well-acted, well photographed, well scripted, has an interesting ending, and is generally warming, while succeeding admirably in making you see the characters without seeing their appearance.