Review of The Sessions (2012) by Ana B — 21 Jul 2013

Based in true events, this is a story of love, disability and sex, in that order. Mark O'Brien is a poet severely disabled by the polio that spends his life lying down inside an artificial lung. Frustrated by lack of affection and sex he seeks his local priest for guidance. After getting a reluctant consent from him Mark decides to contact Cheryl, a sex therapist that helps him loose his virginity in 6 sessions. But Mark's charisma charms Cheryl into something more intimate that compromises her married life and her chosen career.

This is a meaningful movie about a very delicate subject. An individual with a disability has the same needs as the ordinary able person but how do we deal with it? For years -or centuries- society has swept the issue under the carpet. It was a problem virtually unheard of until this film was made. This movie gives you food for thought, it opens the door to dialogue; making you form an opinion in controversial sex matters. And it does so in a very touching way, allowing us to understand Mark's needs and regrets, his thoughts, his religious beliefs giving us a full picture of a man that tries to live his life to the full despite obvious physical obstacles.

And there are so many able bodies incapable of doing anything useful!!