MovieChat Forums > La vie d'Adèle (2013) Discussion > The sex scenes ruined the realism of the...

The sex scenes ruined the realism of the movie.

posted 11 years ago by bebesushii
125 replies | jump to latest

I thought that the movie was very realistic in almost all aspects (even painfully so at times if I may add) but the unrealism of the sex scenes ruined it for me just a bit. Adele's sexual encounters with her first boyfriend and then Emma were nothing short of a porn flick. I don't have problems with nudity or sexually explicit scenes at all (before anyone calls me a prude and thinks that the problem lies in that) but these ones were painful to watch for me simply because of how badly they fit in with the rest of the movie. I loved the movie as a whole but whenever a sex scene would creep up I felt like I was watching something about the sexual encounters of porn star. Those scenes didn't portray a young girl who is trying to discover herself and her sexuality - at least in my opinion.
Now, I know that there are some people out there who would probably just watch this movie for the sex scenes (sad but true) and I'm wondering if the director did this intentionally to guarantee himself a larger audience. Since he managed to depict realism so well in all other aspects, it seems doubtful that he'd be so oblivious to the lack of realism in the sex scenes.

[–] bakerstreetdozen 10 years ago

I'd consider this softcore at the most, but even then, I wouldn't label it as necessarily 'pornographic'. Yes, the sex scenes were fairly explicit, but if you've ever watched lesbian porn (I'm guessing you haven't, but I could be wrong) you'd definitely see the difference, and the difference is huge. The film depicts two young women literally colliding into each other's universes; the love scenes show us the immense physical intensity of that relationship, and in that respect the director did a fantastic job. Equally so, he did a great job showing us the quiet, intimate moments that reveal the emotional intensity between these two. I don't think any of it felt out of place.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

[–] minhal92 10 years ago

Honestly I'm not too sure about the realism - she did seem awfully experienced and conformable with it, it wasn't that great but the sex scenes seemed a little forced and out of place - I honestly think if you completely edited the nudity in the sex scenes out (and leave it as heavily implied) the movie would actually be better - don't feel like it would lose anything.

[–] ObservationBlogger 10 years ago

I thought the sex scenes were probably the films main drawback. I am as keen to watch two women go at as the next man, but something seemed unnatural about it. I agree those scenes did not portray a young girl trying to discover her sexuality. Otherwise a brilliant movie.

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[–] Anton_Kolk 10 years ago

This is kind of funny.

When I first read the headline, I wanted to disagree with the op (I was half through the movie by then). During the scene near the end (where both meet for the first time after the break) I saw, why the sex scenes had to be this intense (otherwise the dialog wouldn't have worked here).

Then after the movie, reading the complete comment above carefully, I understand the op's point and had to agree. Well, I'm not sure exactly by now.

[–] dntbreathe 10 years ago

It felt like a real sex scene minus the scissoring (most lesbians don't do that).

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] shaye22 10 years ago

They weren't that unrealistic, either. I'm sure if people were as attracted in one another as Emma and Adele were, they'd find every possible sex position that our physical bodies would allow too.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] bakerstreetdozen 10 years ago

There isn't one 'default', really, but I don't think there's a default for straight sex either. People would say it's missionary, and a lot of couples probably use that as their go-to, but other positions exist for a reason. Every couple is different and every individual experiences pleasure differently, so it's good to find someone you're comfortable experimenting with so you can both find what works.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

[–] daphen_axa 10 years ago

I disagree, I felt the sex scenes were very realistic tbh. I read about the controversies before watching the movie and I am honestly very surprised so many people think they are not realistic. I am not sure what these people expect from a sex scene then.

And I am not really into porn but I wonder what kind of porn movies you watched because it looks nothing like porn. I mean maybe I can understand that you think the long sex scene with Emma is too graphic, but the one with the guy, porn... really??

I felt they didn't fit badly at all in the movie, they were necessary to the story. Also Adele is discovering her sexuality and all but even if it is her first time with a woman, she isn't completely clueless! She isn't a virgin at all, she masturbates... she isn't that experienced but she has a good idea of what to do and how to pleasure someone.

[–] bakerstreetdozen 10 years ago

Also Adele is discovering her sexuality and all but even if it is her first time with a woman, she isn't completely clueless! She isn't a virgin at all, she masturbates... she isn't that experienced but she has a good idea of what to do and how to pleasure someone.

So many people seem surprised at Adèle's skills and general voracity during the sex scenes with Emma, but I agree with what you've said here. Additionally, it's naturally easier to for a woman to understand and pleasure another woman's body as opposed to a man's, because it's something she's already familiar with. Adèle had a healthy understanding of her body, so that would automatically help.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

[–] Crown_vic_7 10 years ago

No complaints from me. I loved the sex scenes.