Review of The Sessions (2012) by Marlon A — 28 Jul 2013

"The Sessions" is a touching, thought-provoking film that deals frankly with the subject of sex. It's a movie made for adults that focuses on a physically disabled man talking about sex that takes itself seriously but doesn't feel preachy or depressing. The story follows Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes), a poet who is forced to spend much of his time in an iron lung. As a child, O'Brien suffered from polio and became paralyzed. He can still feel his body (so he feels cold and pain) but dials his phone and writes using a wand that he manipulates with his mouth and requires near-constant supervision. Because of his condition, he has never had sex and feels that before he dies he should experience this very human rite of passage. He senses that his life is drawing to an end purely because of his medical condition and after taking counsel with his priest and friend Father Brendan, decides to hire a professional sex surrogate. The film is based on an article titled "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate" by Mark O'Brien and doesn't deal with whether or not Mark will have sex, but how it will happen, in what ways it will affect him and how it will impact the people in his life.

What you will get from watching the film is a profound appreciation and understanding for the very human desire to have sex. Whether you settle down with a single partner, lead a promiscuous lifestyle or even decide to be celibate, the decision to have sex or not to is a very personal one and something that everyone can relate to. Seeing O'Brien struggle with this subject you'll realize how important that choice is to you. In Mark's case he has no choice. Despite the fact that he's surprisingly cheerful considering his position, intelligent and even pretty handsome he just isn't capable of having a traditional relationship. It will make you think of that time you were talking to your boyfriend/girlfriend about whether they would stay with you if you got into a car accident and lost a limb or got burned in a fire and lost your hair. Thinking about a theoretical situation and living it are very different things. It's not that falling in love with the man is impossible, it's that the very idea is incredibly intimidating. You see his character try and develop a relationship with a woman only for her to run away at the thought of living with a man that doesn't even own any furniture and hasn't slept in a bed in decades. The guy is a true underdog and with his witty comments, sharp writing and smart attitude you really get to care for him. You are afraid that he just isn't going to be able to have sex at all but you're cheering for him all the way regardless of the odds.

The movie intelligently doesn't talk down to any of the characters. O'Brien isn't some saint that comes along and illuminates everyone's lives, he's just a regular guy that happens to be incapable of moving. He's got moments where he's conflicted, he gets nervous about having sex, he gets excited over writing love letters and disappointed when things don't turn out the way he wants them to. The supporting characters are just as well developed. Helen Hunt plays the sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene as a professional that knows how strange her job title is but also knows how important she can be to the people she sees. Despite her efforts she gets emotional about the whole thing and you can't blame her. William H. Macy plays Father Brendan in a way that's very human and refreshing. It's a real eye opener to see a man who's decided to give up sex to be closer to God talking to Mark, a man that is incapable of having sex. The two have a lot of good moments together and you really believe their friendship. Two other characters worth noting are the clerk at the hotel and his caretaker, who have some good discussions together. Without giving away anything they feel like the kind of discussion you would have with someone who's never heard of this movie an doesn't understand why it's so fresh and satisfying to watch.

"The Sessions" is part feel-good movie and part truly honest love story. You really haven't seen anything like it and the ideas swirling around this plot are genuinely thought provoking. It's very hard not to get emotionally affected by it and although it doesn't quite make it over that last hurdle into a flawless film, it's very strong. You won't think of sex the same way after seeing "The Sessions" and for that reason alone, it's worth your time. (Blu-ray, July 11, 2013).