MovieChat Forums > Naissance des pieuvres (2007) Discussion > Did the 'sex' scene go too far?

Did the 'sex' scene go too far?

posted 17 years ago by ellie_maracas
68 replies | jump to latest

I really enjoyed this film - totally drew me in for the entire time and I got caught up in the three main characters. It evoked a really melancholy/uncomfortable mood and made me think for hours after it. I'm not so sure though about the 'sex' scene with the two girls. Was it really necessary? It seemed kind of stupid and voyeuristic just for the sake of shock value. I don't think the younger character (sorry, can't remember her name while writing this) would really have done this...just because she was asked to. I don't buy that she is that mesmerised with the older girl. I loved the third character (the younger girl's friend). Their contrasting motivations and sexual feelings made this film a cooker pressure of tension and desire.

[–] tf424 16 years ago

Compared to a lot of other European movies, this one was remarkably restrained, no doubt so that it could be offered in the US and more importantly Canada without being hacked up by censors. Even the fully-clothed sex scene could be considered illegal by a crusading US prosecutor who might be bored prosecuting mass-murderers. It was also probably held back a little by the first-time director who didn't want to push too far on her first outing (pun intended).

As far as the lesbian angle goes, it is one of the main reasons this movie rises above soap opera fare; plain old hetero love triangles are a dime a dozen on Lifetime and daytime drama series. The acting was good but uneven, there were a few scenes where "adolescent awkwardness" is interchangeable with "missed cues and poor direction" as a reason why the scene was painful to watch. But it was certainly more enjoyable to watch than other adolescent films where the teens deliver snappy uber-intelligent lines with the rapid-fire delivery of a Catskills stand-up comedian!

[–] qsft9 16 years ago

As a reaction to the first post.
In this movie every scene, every gesture told a part of the story. You should all really watch the movie again and this time with someone who understands movie language.
So, yes, the *sex* scene was not only necessary but also pivotal. Everything happening from that moment on climaxed. Friendships climaxed, crazy crushes climaxed. Everything climaxed and then fizzed into nothing. The *sex* scene (which wasn't sexy at all but rather uncomfortable and painful in more then one way) was the spark that let it all happen.

[–] lathe-of-heaven 15 years ago

Oh geez, this one is just WAAAAAAAAAY too easy...

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[–] sjchwa 16 years ago

What sex scene??You call that "sex" scene?

[–] lancecobilla 16 years ago

I think that it's more appropriate to call it "finger scene" than "sex scene"

[–] VStarkwell 16 years ago

I can't beleive how many of you misunderstood the scene.

Th entire point of it was that Floriane was planning on having sex with Francois later that night, but he would find out she was still a virgin and ruin her reputation as a slut. So she asks Marie to get rid of her hymen so that he wouldn't know. The reason she sheds tears is because it was physically painful.
About her being the first, yes maybe there was some affection there but it was more of a matter of time, necessity and trust for Floriane.
Marie of course wants no part of helping Floriane with Francois so she refused initially because it was against her own self-interest.

[–] mvdm-2 16 years ago

I think you're partially right, Floriane did want to have sex but was mixed up, as nearly all adolescents are, she would have liked it to be a guy but then again nearly all the guys she met were too eager. Here feelings were split betweeen that and the tipically romantic fantasy of something beautifull. The deception of the experience, despite Maries obvious crush on Floriane, is what actually made here cry, not so much the physical pain.
I think the scene actually displays a great insight into real life experience, as does the whole movie displaying the intense mental battle that plagues Marie. She knows what she wants but can't get a grip on it, and when she does it doesn't fulfill her as she had expected (the kiss scene) because she knows here feelings weren't answered the way she would have liked it.

In all the movie reminded me of some of the excellent films made by Claude Chabrol, although those treated different subjects, the atmostsphere and underlying philosophy are much alike. Claude Chabrol also had this knack of making us think rather than displaying a defined opinion.
This is what makes you turn to view a movie more than once, something which few american directors achieve. Therefore the 'sex' scene wasn't really a sex scene, and didn't need to be one, rather it would have destroyed the movie if it was.

[–] tmacblue22 15 years ago

This is two years late, but well said!

[–] alarmanwp 16 years ago

I think when Floraine first asked Marie to do it, there may have been more to her refusal. Maybe she didn't want her first time with her to be like a surgical operation, which is what it amounted to. Maybe Marie really wasn't ready for a more intimate connection, even though that is what she desired. There seemed to be fear in her hesitation as Floraine pleaded with her to "be her first time"....

[–] freddycd15 16 years ago

I personally didn't think it shocked at all, it was more of an awkward moment and one which although Marie wanted, but not under those circumstances.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] alarmanwp 16 years ago

Wait a minute...I thought that wasn't so much a love scene as a need for the tall girl, Floraine, to "lose her cherry" so her would-be boyfriend wouldn't know she was still a virgin. I think she cried partly because of the pain and partly because of her conflicting feelings for Marie and Francois. Marie was willing to do this for Floriane because she was her friend and because she had such a huge crush on her, but the scene was not really gratifying for either of them. Concerning Marie's friend, Anne, I'm not sure i understood why she eventually turned on Francois the way she did (spitting in his mouth); it seemed that they were both getting what they wanted. Unless she suddenly felt that she didn't want to be used by him anymore...

The ending left me a little flat. I guess it was a lot to ask for anything to really be resolved over the course of the few weeks that this movie is set in...

All-in-all, I thought it was a well-made film; Adele Haenel (Floraine) was truly radiant. I expect she could become a huge French star once she turns 21.

[–] tmacblue22 15 years ago

Yeah, Anne just spit in Francois' mouth because he used her for sex (after he visits Floriane and she doesn't satisfy his need for it) and didn't actually care for her. Anne and Marie, towards the end, were just growing out of their childish ways and were moving on, knowing that someone better lay ahead for each of them.

What I REALLY don't get is why Floraiane says "You see? That wasn't so hard was it?" after they kiss at the end.

So, did Floriane want Marie to kiss her when they were in bed together, and that's why the tear came down her cheek (along with the physical pain?)

It made me hate Floriane so much for being so self-centered. Didn't she know that it wasn't enjoyable for Marie to take Florianes virginity just so that Francois wouldn't know she was a virgin? What did Marie do to Floriane that was wrong (after the virginity scene)?

I'll have to watch it again, I suppose.

[–] mkathryne 14 years ago

Well, that could be it. It could've been the fact Marie hadn't been able to go ahead and kiss her before.. but the way I understood it at first, is that Floriane was hinting back to their conversation about how Marie hadn't done anything yet.

[–] tomkattent-1 14 years ago

i saw the bra scenes and kissing scenes on line

interesting didnt know there was a sex finger scene

[–] johnhelv 11 years ago

What I REALLY don't get is why Floraiane says "You see? That wasn't so hard was it?" after they kiss at the end.

So, did Floriane want Marie to kiss her when they were in bed together, and that's why the tear came down her cheek (along with the physical pain?)

It made me hate Floriane so much for being so self-centered. Didn't she know that it wasn't enjoyable for Marie to take Florianes virginity just so that Francois wouldn't know she was a virgin? What did Marie do to Floriane that was wrong (after the virginity scene)?

I'll have to watch it again, I suppose.

Just a guess, but Floriane telling Marie "you see? that wasn't so hard was it?" after the kiss, might have been Floriane's way of acknowledging that she knew that Marie had a crush on her.

[–] zachanscom 14 years ago

Some famous quotes of mark twain that apparently still rings true today:

France has neither winter nor summer nor morals--apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country.

In certain public indecencies the difference between a dog & a Frenchman is not perceptible.

There is nothing lower than the human race except the French.

French are the connecting link between man & the monkey.

An isolated & helpless young girl is perfectly safe from insult by a Frenchman, if he is dead.(just replace insult with voyeuristic pedophilia in the name of art)

[–] 14 years ago

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