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IMDbPro

The Sessions

  • 2012
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
45K
YOUR RATING
Helen Hunt and John Hawkes in The Sessions (2012)
A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.
Play trailer2:32
17 Videos
76 Photos
Quirky ComedyRomantic ComedyBiographyComedyDramaRomance

A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.

  • Director
    • Ben Lewin
  • Writers
    • Ben Lewin
    • Mark O'Brien
  • Stars
    • John Hawkes
    • Helen Hunt
    • William H. Macy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    45K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ben Lewin
    • Writers
      • Ben Lewin
      • Mark O'Brien
    • Stars
      • John Hawkes
      • Helen Hunt
      • William H. Macy
    • 161User reviews
    • 340Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 19 wins & 64 nominations total

    Videos17

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:32
    Theatrical Version
    The Sessions
    Trailer 2:32
    The Sessions
    The Sessions
    Trailer 2:32
    The Sessions
    The Sessions: The Wrong Way To Start Off
    Clip 1:31
    The Sessions: The Wrong Way To Start Off
    The Sessions: Your Money's On The Desk Over There
    Clip 1:34
    The Sessions: Your Money's On The Desk Over There
    The Sessions: Macy And Hawkes
    Clip 0:47
    The Sessions: Macy And Hawkes
    The Sessions: Tell Me Something About You
    Clip 0:54
    The Sessions: Tell Me Something About You

    Photos76

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    Top cast32

    Edit
    John Hawkes
    John Hawkes
    • Mark
    Helen Hunt
    Helen Hunt
    • Cheryl
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Father Brendan
    Moon Bloodgood
    Moon Bloodgood
    • Vera
    Annika Marks
    Annika Marks
    • Amanda
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • Josh
    Rhea Perlman
    Rhea Perlman
    • Mikvah Lady
    • (as Rhea Pearlman)
    W. Earl Brown
    W. Earl Brown
    • Rod
    Robin Weigert
    Robin Weigert
    • Susan
    Blake Lindsley
    Blake Lindsley
    • Dr. Laura White
    Ming Lo
    Ming Lo
    • Clerk
    Rusty Schwimmer
    Rusty Schwimmer
    • Joan
    Jennifer Kumiyama
    Jennifer Kumiyama
    • Carmen
    Tobias Forrest
    Tobias Forrest
    • Greg
    Jarrod Bailey
    Jarrod Bailey
    • Tony
    James Martinez
    James Martinez
    • Matt
    Paul MacLean
    • Young Mark
    Phoebe Lewin
    • Girl on Beach
    • Director
      • Ben Lewin
    • Writers
      • Ben Lewin
      • Mark O'Brien
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews161

    7.244.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8gt-thereelword

    Will Make You Laugh, Cry and Look at Life More Positively

    The Sessions tells the inspirational true story of Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes), a poet/journalist who has an iron lung and is paralyzed from the neck down due to polio. At age 36 he decides to finally lose his virginity and – with the support of his friend/priest (William H. Macy) – hires a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt).

    John Hawkes (Winter's Bone, Martha Marcy May Marlene) has been gathering accolades for his performance in The Sessions – and with good reason. He not only delivers on the physical demands of such a role but he manages to encapsulate the emotions of a man with a broken body but a good heart. It's an impressive performance that should see him at least receive an Oscar nomination come next years awards. Hawkes is almost matched by Helen Hunt. She bares all in a brave role that depicts a woman struggling with her job and her emotions. These two performances are some of the best (so far) this year. William H. Macy also gives a good performance as a likable priest that O'Brien is able to confide in.

    As a whole, the film doesn't shy away from much. The sex "therapy" sessions are depicted as realistically as possible and are both funny and touching (no pun intended). Ben Lewin's direction is simple yet it manages to adequately depict O'Brien's world without sensationalizing it. It's an all round simple tale that is well told. This is an adult drama that will make you laugh, cry and look more positively at your own life. There aren't many films that do that these days.
    10JankiSharma

    sex is the theme of life

    The Sessions directed by Ben Lewin is based on the life of Mark O'Brien, a polio stricken man in an iron lung who was a journalist and a poet( played by John Hawkes: movie Winter's bone)originally from Boston who moved to Berkeley,CA. Mark was grateful that his parents did not send him to a nursing home but raised him at home so he could live long. At age of 38 ( 1988), Mark decided to lose his virginity and explore and enjoy sex. He was always supine and always either in an iron lung at home or on a gurney when outside. He finally decides to seek the help of a paid sex surrogate who is definitely different from a hooker. Cheryl(played by Helen Hunt)is a sex surrogate. Cheryl is intelligent, educated,married and has a nice body. Cheryl and Mark decide to go through six sessions of sex and self awareness. Cheryl makes Mark aware of his and her body. John Hawkes acted brilliantly . His facial expressions and glittering eyes are very enticing and evoke respect and sympathy. I particularly liked the way Mark describes his first session of intimacy: cleansed and victorious. Helen Hunt as Cheryl is excellent. All the nude scenes are sophisticated and stylishly done. William Macy as Father Brendan is excellent. Screenplay is excellent and conversations between Father Brendan and Mark are interesting. Oscar worthy for Direction,screenplay, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor roles.
    9blanbrn

    Emotional, touching, and uplifting it inspires an intimate feel and discovery of achievement.

    Been a little while since I've seen a film that's as touching and moving as "The Sessions" which is based on the real life story of a California man named Mark O' Brien. And it's certainly a little different O' Brien(in a top notch and excellent performance from John Hawkes)a poet and journalist is a man with talent, but tragically he's confined to an iron lung due to a kid bout with polio. Then at the age of 38 Mark has made the big decision to lose his virginity. This will be a big impact on Mark's life so he consults the advice of his ever honest priest Father Brendan(in a good supporting turn from veteran William H. Macy)who oddly enough gives a good hearted thumbs up.

    This pleasure changing experiment will have to be done with the help of a professional sex surrogate and this lady is a strong and tough wife and mother who makes her living helping others enter Cheryl(in a strong and direct turn from Helen Hunt)who can make everything appear like she's the plain Jane girl from next door. Slowly but surely these encounters or sessions between her and Mark produce results of feeling, relaxation, mind changing, and comfort, all before they finally approach the pleasure point! Along the way this picture is told with honesty and much of the scenes are humor mixed with blunt and brash serious feel of a man being set free toward a new feeling of pleasure freedom finally! Overall the "Sessions" is a film of journey and it shows how the discovery of sexual pleasure can bring out emotional freedom that's touching and memorable even though the scenes are brash with skin and memorable and educational with thought. This film is a real inspirational winner and the chemistry between Helen Hunt and John Hawkes is in top notch form as director Ben Lewin made a real and true winner.
    8georgep53

    Delicate Subject Makes For An Unforgettable Film

    "The Sessions" is a sensitive and poignant film with an outstanding performance by John Hawkes as poet Mark O'Brien a childhood victim of polio that left him paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on personal attendants and an iron lung that enables him to survive the nights without suffocating. In voice and facial expression he manages to perfectly capture the life of a severely disabled man who likes to push against boundaries and retains a sense of humor--he tells someone that he believes in God because he needs to blame someone. This role is quite a departure for Hawkes who gave terrific performances in films like "Winter's Bone" and "Martha Marcy May Marlene" where he was Jennifer Lawrence's loner brother and a deranged cult leader haunting Elizabeth Olsen. Helen Hunt is memorable as the sex surrogate to whom O'Brien turns to help him achieve his dream of sexual intimacy with a woman. A professional as well as a wife and mother she doesn't hesitate to take exception with the notion that she is some kind of prostitute and clearly she isn't. William H Macy is the local parish priest whom O'Brien a devout Catholic relies on for advice and encouragement. There's plenty of wry humor watching Macy trying to figure it all out as he knows he's in uncharted waters. Based on a magazine essay director/writer Ben Lewin handles this unusual subject matter with great sensitivity and intelligence. This isn't some Hallmark TV movie it's a mature, honest film that isn't going to insult your intelligence. Definitely worth seeing.
    10barbaras2050

    Touching, Intimate and Adult Film

    John Hawkes continues to amaze with his chameleon-like embodiment of unusual characters. This time, he plays Marc O'Brien, a 36 year-old polio victim who has spent his life horizontal in an iron lung. Based on a true story, O'Brien is a poet and a romantic, who has never had a sexual experience. After consulting his priest, ( William H. Macy perfectly embodies the Berkeley radical father), he contacts a therapist and hooks up with a sexual surrogate, Helen Hunt. Their "sessions" form the heart of this tender film, and take both the audience and Marc on a journey of self-awareness and discovery. Hawkes is simply amazing. He imbues the character with innocence, hope and wry humor in what can only be described as a tour de force performance. Hunt is equally skilled in her role, combining professionalism, playfulness, sensuality, and compassion in series of sessions which require full nudity. Both actors are courageous in their pursuit of truth and humanity and achieve Oscar caliber performances, thanks to the sensitive direction of writer/director Ben Lewin.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Hawkes placed a cushion under one side of his back to achieve the look of Mark O'Brien's distorted spine.
    • Goofs
      Cheryl wears Wacoal bras from 2011, including the "Embrace Lace Underwire" bra style #65191.
    • Quotes

      Mark O'Brien: I believe in a God with a sense of humor. I would find it absolutely intolerable not to be to able blame someone for all this.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.160 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Fine Wine Tasting for Two
      Written by Brad Hatfield (as Bradley P. Hatfield)

      Performed by Brad Hatfield Quintet

      Courtesy of Heavy Hitters Music Group

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 2013 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Fox (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Seis sesiones de sexo
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Such Much Films
      • Rhino Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,002,451
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $113,467
      • Oct 21, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,656,155
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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