MPI Home Video | 2009 | 101 mins. | Not Rated
Adapted from the novel Insatiable: The Sexual Adventures of a French Girl in Spain, by Valerie Tasso, Diary of a Nymphomaniac seems to be erotica with a philosophy. An affirmation of promiscuity over marriage, the film takes a frank an unapologetic look at one woman’s search for her identity through various sexual escapades. Val (Belén Fabra) is upfront about the fact that she enjoys sex more than anything else. A self diagnosed nymphomaniac since she lost her virginity at the age of 15, she has spent the ensuing years flitting between regular hookups, one night stands, and random encounters with strangers at the train station.
Despite her grandmother’s (Geraldine Chaplin) assurances that Valerie needs only be true to herself, she struggles with a crisis of conscience and seems too long for a relationship with greater romantic significance. A search for a new job leads her to Jamie (Leonardo Sbaraglia) a handsome businessman who initially interviews her for a job. Val is surprised to find herself feeling things she’s never felt before; Jamie even makes her heart skip a beat. Val is in love. Unfortunately, Jamie soon turns into a very dark scary person. When Val gets pregnant and Jaime denies his paternal responsibilities, she realizes that it’s time to break free and reclaim her happiness.
The fact that there is no explanation as to why Jamie quickly evolves into such a psychopath is somewhat troubling. The only reason I could come up with is this: to have her settle down would blow away the philosophy of promiscuity over marriage. That’s fine, but making the guy a total psycho seems a bit much. Anyway, once Val untangles herself from Jamie, she takes what turns out to be a rather dispiriting job as a prostitute in a brothel for high rollers. Her cyclical journey ultimately brings her back to re-embracing her life as a nymphomaniac with a renewed sense of self-confidence.
Though competently done from the acting to the score, the films message, if a man sleeps with every woman in sight, he’s considered macho; if a woman sleeps with every man in sight, she’s considered a slut probably comes too early to be taken seriously. Screenwriter Cuca Canals and director Christian Molina show Val at her happiest when she’s moving from man to man, with absolutely no consequences. Maybe I’m attempting to inject too much reality into this story, but no matter her level of self confidence having sex with complete strangers may to lead to some negativity.
In the end, I suppose I was struck by the fact that the central plot of Diary of a Nymphomaniac seems to be rooted in the free love morays of the 1970’s sexual revolution—specifically, the idea that woman crave sex without the shackles of marriage—but then fails to explore if there are any physical or emotional reasons behind Val’s choice. It should also be pointed out that this film was directed by a man, and some may get the feeling it plays out as nothing more than a male fantasy of how the modern woman should think and act.
MPI has released Diary of a Nymphomaniac on the IFC Films label in a technically sound but no frills edition. The anamorphic image looks good, with bright colors and few digital issues. The surround sound is fine, but nothing special. For special features, all we have is a brief making-of featurette and a trailer; nothing to write home about.
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