If you were looking for the notorious orange (which is actually red) square (which is actually a rectangle) during a rape scene, you may have been watching the wrong film. There is no rape scene in 'Storytelling', unless you insist on allowing for consensual sex between adults in your definition of rape. I understand that Vi's character is somewhat manipulated by the more powerful party, her teacher, but as I recall, she was in a moment of weakness out to 'hook-up' with someone. Also granting that the sex she had was quite likely not the sex she sought. Blah blah blah, enough of my anal-ysis.
The deal is, when I saw the film in the theatre, there was a large, red rectangle blocking our view of the sex scene between Vi and her African-American writing instructor. We saw Vi naked, awkwardly awaiting what would happen next, but as soon as the sex commensed, 1/4 of the frame was obscured by the red rectangle, so that we simply couldn't see it. The audio continued to portray what was obviously quite intense, forceful sex, and it was obvious from the arrangement of the frame that they were standing and that she was up against and facing the wall. The only reason that I point this out, and in such detail, is that I think all of this was sort of a smart-assed side joke that Solondz through in to both appease the ratings folks, and to mock our dis-ease with inter-racial and inter-generational sex (not to mention in awkward scenarios and in awkward positions). But that's just my take on it.
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21 years ago
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sirbrannon
21 years ago
Yes, essentially it is, and apparently this was necessary to appease censors in the US. I just think Solondz uses the 'red box' unconventionally and ironically to take the audiences eyes off what was happening while still forcing them to deal with the content. And as is often the case, what we don't see can be even more disturbing than what we do see (like in the first 'Alien' film...).
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MrBonde
21 years ago
I´ve seen the german DVD Version and there is no red/orange square/rectangle whatsoever.
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sslop
21 years ago
Yeah, in the version I downloaded there is no red rectangle.
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drella666
21 years ago
There's no rectangle on the DVD I've got (purchased in Asia). Moreover, I can't quite see what it would be concealing. Neither actor's genitals come into view. Robert Wisdom's butt is exposed, but if that's enough to give the US censors a problem then we might as well hand over the White House keys to the Taliban.
It's a distressing scene, but it's meant to be distressing. How anyone could possibly be aroused by such a (deliberately) sordid coupling escapes me. Adding a rectangle to conceal part of the image makes the whole think more titillating and "sexy" than it actually is.
Several stories coming in from the States over the last few weeks (Janet Jackson, Howard Stern, proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, etc) have led me to the conclusion that the so-called forces of "decency" in your great nation have taken leave of their senses. What's going on? The final victory of political correctness? A surreptitious coup by that religious maniac John Ashcroft?
I'll say it again - I cannot believe that so many people will fight so hard to protect the Second Amendment (protecting guns, that kill) while letting the First Amendment slip into irrelevance (essentially protecting bare boobs and swearwords, which may upset a few fragile souls, but never killed anyone).
Anyone who actually supports this creeping Puritanism, please post here and state your arguments.
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dcloyd
19 years ago
I'm not here to defend US policy, but if you had a good enough lawyer the scene could have been ruled as rape. She mentions that there was scaring (I assume she is speaking metaphorically and literally) and in many cases signs of forced entry are rather damning. Regardless of what we think a court of law would have to make the decision and I'd say she would have a good case.
Anyway, the rape scene (which I admit calling it so takes an extreme liberal interpretation) is why it is censored. Furthermore, the reason for my response is to remind you that Puritanical America wasn't the first to ban a movie (because the red rectangle version is a different movie in the literal sense, thus the original was banned) based on a rape scene. Our good ole founders accross the sea did it first back in the seventies. Peckinpah really messes with your head concerning sexual consent in Straw Dawgs. And if I'm not mistaken, it is still banned in the UK to this day. But strangely enough it isn't banned in the US. Go figure.
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americanl3eauty2
19 years ago
I have the VHS. There is a red orange rectangle. When I saw it in the theater back in the day, it was there as well. My ex-boyfriend had a DVD version with out the rectangle.
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