By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Anja Marquardt
Country: united_states
Year: 2015
Running time: 90
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3130776/combined
Kyle says: “SHE’S LOST CONTROL, a feature film debut by director Anja Marquardt, tells a tale of sex surrogates within the psychotherapy community: the elusive goal is intimacy but the process involves sex with people who are essentially strangers, often very damaged. A film on this topic necessarily includes numerous scenes of attempted intimacy with clients, talking gently, touching, fondling, kissing, sexual intercourse. But there is also a clear threat of a client becoming unhinged and resorting to extreme violence, aroused to inappropriate behavior. Fairly early on, we know where events are heading, and the movie becomes soggy and the narrative thread leaden. The ending is particularly unconvincing. The client says, ‘I already know how to sleep with women I don’t know.’ The therapist is told, ‘Remember that empathy is more important than sympathy.’ That the film is worthy seeing at all is due to a noteworthy performance by Brooke Bloom as Ronah the therapist, with an open vulnerable face, an easy manner, obvious emotional availability, and inspiring attention to specific details of behavior. Perhaps Ronah becomes too involved with her clients, possibly she becomes the victim of her efforts with one particular client. Hence the title. In any case, events spiral out of control, and Ronah must make a life changing decision. 3 cats
“Seen Saturday, March 29, 2014, New Directors/New Films at the Walter Reade Theater, Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York.”