Contemporary Erotica

Unsurprisingly contemporary erotica films have managed to get away with more explicit representations of sexuality than what came before.

The real sex shown in Shortbus and Baise-Moi eclipse the bouncy shenanigans on view in the classics directed by Russ Meyer or starring Bettie Page. Often this can work to the films’ advantage. Modern... show more >

Unsurprisingly contemporary erotica films have managed to get away with more explicit representations of sexuality than what came before.

The real sex shown in Shortbus and Baise-Moi eclipse the bouncy shenanigans on view in the classics directed by Russ Meyer or starring Bettie Page. Often this can work to the films’ advantage. Modern adaptations of Lady Chatterley's Lover and Justine can now channel the frank eroticism of the author’s vision.

Nevertheless, in spite of this new liberalism, British erotica of the 1970s tended to play sex for laughs, to great success. Come Play with Me enjoyed a four-year cinema run, while the fondly-remembered Confessions… series made a star of Robin Asquith’s backside.

Erotica’s box office appeal is often forgotten in cinema history. Emmanuelle was the biggest box office smash of its year in France, while the surprisingly hardcore Deep Throat is said to have made over $600 million.

It is also interesting, in an often sexist genre, how many erotica movies are made by women, such as the controversial Baise-Moi and The Night Porter. Novices to the genre should check out Destricted, an excellent collection of short sex-themed films featuring work by Sam Taylor-Wood, Larry Clark and Gaspar Noé. < show less