All Reviews

This is a unique comedy that expresses sex from a wide angle view with dark tones warm feelings.
The action pushes and pulls and is weaved into the dialogue. The intro slowly invites the viewer into
film. However I like the style overall.

Apart from the constant confusion between asexuality and the antisexual movement, which is somewhat understandable given that this is a Russian film and the antisexual movement is more significant than asexual visibility there, it's actually not a bad film. Well, it's a bad film, but it's so bad that it's good. It's ridiculous almost all the time, but then again it is a comedy and it's not supposed to be a serious film.

I also like that they break into song occasionally. I'm not sure why I like it, but I do.

It's worth watching, if only to be able to say that you've watched one of the most obscure films ever made. I'm actually planning to watch it again, and that doesn't happen with many films.

As an asexual, I was interested in viewing this movie and seeing asexuality in pop culture. Despite pleasing cinematography and some cute romantic scenes, my major concern is whether it's sending the right message to an uninformed public about asexuality. The concept is still new to many, many people, but the community seen on the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) is very strong. Thus the importance of clearly describing asexuality:

It seems that the biggest problem is a lack of proper terminology. Throughout the movie, the term "antisexual" is used interchangeably with "asexual," but asexuals are without sex, not against or opposed to it, making these two terms antonymous. While there may be an asexual revolution (however small), it is not an opposition to sex, it's about the recognition of a sexual orientation.

Asexuality does not stem from a fear of sex, as in Maria's case. It is also different than celibacy; asexuality is not a choice. While the synopsis claims that Maria is "not sexless," she calls herself asexual, a contradiction in terms.

The ending seemed to imply that love was dependent on sex. Each relationship is different, and sex thus plays a different role. Although Garik says that love and sex are distinct, we still see Maria's sexlessness as a problem the couple needs to solve in order to be happy. Many sexual/asexual romantic relationships are successful. It would be more provocative to see how a modern sexual/asexual couple responds to a sexless marriage.

We also see problems in the opening narration of the movie. The claim that one in 100 people is asexual has not been verified due to a lack of sufficient research. Also, not all asexuals would agree with a statement so presumptuous: "Asexuals claim to be the people of the future. They crave for the world free of sex." Asexuals are people with unique needs just like everyone else, and asexuality is just another sexual orientation. However, one truth mentioned is that asexuals are not impotent.

Despite all of these issues, AVEN, with over 30,000 members, is still cited in the movie's credits. Even the www.ru.asexuality.org website reads that asexuals are not antisexual. In my opinion, the premise of this movie really requires more research on the asexuality community to be successful.