Investigating Sex
2001 film by Alan Rudolph
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Investigating Sex (alternate title: Intimate Affairs) is a 2001 comedy-drama film written and directed by Alan Rudolph, starring Neve Campbell, Til Schweiger, Nick Nolte and Dermot Mulroney. The film is based on Investigating Sex: Surrealist Research 1928-1932, a book of Surrealist writers' discussions about sex led by André Breton and compiled by Jose Pierre.[1] Rudolph called it "one of the most horrific experiences I've ever had, yet this was combined with one of the most pleasureable and enjoyable and creative experiences."[2]
Jose Pierre
| Investigating Sex | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Alan Rudolph |
| Screenplay by | Alan Rudolph |
| Based on | Recherches sur la sexualite archives du surealisme by Jose Pierre |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Florian Ballhaus |
| Edited by | John Helde |
| Music by | Ulf Skogsbergh |
Production companies | Gemini Films Apollo Media Kingsgate Janus Films |
| Distributed by | UGC Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Countries | Germany United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8 million |
Plot
Set in the year 1929 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Edgar Faldo is a young professor who decides to assemble a group of friends at his family mansion to discuss the topic of sex and its advantages. Edgar hires two young women to work as stenographers to record the daily debates that his friends discuss to scientifically study sex.
The two women, the sexually active Zoe and the frigid-plain Alice, have mixed feelings being around as Edgar brings over three of his friends, who include oddball English artist Sevy, German writer and novelist Monty, and fellow professor Peter. Edgar's father, Mr. Faldo, shows up with his new trophy wife, Sasha, to oversee the events as others who are Lorenz, Oscar, Sevy's wife Janet, and Edgar's disapproving French girlfriend, Chloe, all turn up during different meeting sessions to talk and interact with everyone on the taboos spoken for the "experiment" as Edgar puts it.
Cast
- Dermot Mulroney as Edgar Faldo
- Julie Delpy as Chloe
- Robin Tunney as Zoe
- Neve Campbell as Alice
- Jeremy Davies as Oscar
- Alan Cumming as Sevy
- Til Schweiger as Monty
- John Light as Peter
- Nick Nolte as Faldo
- Terrence Howard as Lorenz
- Emily Bruni as Janet
- Tuesday Weld as Sasha Faldo
- Jacqueline Anderson as Linda
- Joseph May as Roger
- Marc Hosemann as Joey
Production
Rudolph was planning a film about Man Ray when sent a copy of the Pierre's book from actor Wallace Shawn. He was not interested in adapting the story of the surrealists in Paris "but I figured, 'What would happen if this was in America?' with people trying to reach those heights but were incapable of it?"[2] He and Michael Henry Wilson adapted the story as a screenplay. They created fictional characters for the dialogues and moved the setting to New England.[3]
The film was shot in Berlin in 2000 using German finance.[4][2] Neve Campbell, who played a stenographer, described the film as a "no money, no nothing film, but a really great acting exercise."[5] During the making of the film met John Light who she later married.
Release
After a long delay, the film was released on DVD in the U.S. on December 23, 2007 with a different title, Intimate Affairs.[6] According to Alan Cumming, the delay was caused by a dispute with the German producers.[4] Rudolph said "We did it with some foreign money, and the people just turned out to be monsters. And they sat on it.”[7] He later said the distributors "thought it needed to be a different kind of movie."[2]
The movie did screen at film festivals in Denver and Seattle.
Critical reception
The film received mixed reviews. Film Comment called it "one of the most enjoyable movies of the year," praising Rudolph's screwball comedy-like dialogue.[1] Variety panned it as "too dated, and far too timid, to spark any real exploration of mind or body."[8]
Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club, reviewing the DVD release, called the film a "pleasant surprise," likening it to "Kinsey re-imagined as a goofy sex comedy."[6]
