Sex in film Information & Sex in film Links at HealthHaven.com

This article is about sex in mainstream film. For pornographic films, see pornographic film.

Sex in film refers to the presentation in motion pictures of sex acts, including love scenes. Sex scenes have been depicted in film since the silent era of cinematography. Many actors and actresses have exposed parts of their bodies or dressed and behaved in ways considered sexually provocative by contemporary standards at some point in their careers. Some films of the sexual nature have been criticized by religious groups and/or banned by governments because of the amounts of sex scenes.

Sex in film should be distinguished from nudity in film. Nudity and sexuality are features of pornographic films. In softcore films, sexuality is less explicit. Erotic films are suggestive of sexuality, but need not contain nudity. A film on naturism or about people where nudity is common may contain non-sexual nudity. In some genres of film sexuality is rarely depicted.

[edit] Attitudes by region

[edit] India

Sex scenes in mainstream Indian movies were rare until the end of 1990s, with kisses, sex, and rape being depicted symbolically. In recent years, attitudes have changed in the movie industry, especially Bollywood, with some movies dealing with sexual themes, though not without controversy. Many Bollywood stars accept sex scenes but without nudity. Now days, kissing is a common element of Indian film.

[edit] Europe

Pedro Almodovar of Spain is a prolific director who includes eroticism as part of many of his movies. Tinto Brass, from Italy, has dedicated his career to converting explicit sex into mainstream content. His films are also notable for feminist-friendly eroticism^{[citation needed]}. French filmmaker Catherine Breillat caused controversy with unsimulated sex in her films Romance and Anatomy of Hell. In Italy, nudity and strong sexual themes go back to the silent era with films such as The Last Days of Pompeii (1926).

[edit] North America

In the United States, many horror films, comedy films, drama series, and daytime soap operas are based around sex. Characters meant to be portrayed as minors are often played by twenty-something actors, mainly to display the sexuality of the "underage" characters. A popular American sub-erotic film genre is erotic thriller with films such as Basic Instinct (1992).

In Mexico, many comedy films are based around sex, typically portraying men as unstoppable sex-seeking creatures and women as willing targets. Although the numbers of such comedies waned during the 1990s, domestic servants, bar workers, dancers and neighbors' wives continue to be depicted as potentially willing sexual partners.

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