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Anne Parillaud, Gregoire Colin, Roxane Mesquida, Ashley Wanninger, Dominique Colladant ... see more see more... , Bart Binnema , Elisabete Piecho , Yves Osmu , Francis Seleck , Diane Scapa , Ana Lorena , Claire Monnatte , Arnaldo Junior , Elisabete Silva , Bruno Ramos , Alfredo Ramalho , Julia Fragata , Jose Cascais , Claire Monatte

Catherine Breillat's Sex is Comedy concerns a female film director, Jeanne (Anne Parillaud), who is attempting to film a sex scene in her new movie. Complicating the already emotionally difficult shoo... read more read more...t is the fact that Jeanne and her lead actor (Grégoire Colin) are sexually involved. The scene being shot echoes with a scene in Breillat's previous film, Fat Girl, adding to the supposed "reality" of the situations presented in the film. Roxane Mesquida rounds out the cast as the actress playing the 15-year-old in the scene being filmed. Sex Is Comedy was screened during the Director's Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

50% liked it

4,166 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

46 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Catherine Breillat

Release Date: October 14, 2004

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DVD Release Date: February 22, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (247)

  • hunterjt13
    May 25, 2012
    hunterjt13
    A director cajoles, threatens, berates, and befriends her actors in order to get them to perform the perfect sex scene.
    The shooting of a sex scene has always been a curiosity for me. To put something so personal and private on screen in front of everyone from one's fellow actor... read mores to the Teamsters rep to the gum-chewing, fanny-pack-wearing, high school dropout key grip speaks to what levels of courage actors must have to do such a job. But this film doesn't focus on the actors' journeys but the director's various tactics to get them to do the scene. I can see how this concept might make a good film, but not with this director. Jeanne is a myopic, self-centered bitch, and her little manipulations are thoroughly uninteresting. What is more, I had trouble seeing the real conflict in the film. It's true that the Actor was resisting Jeanne's appeals, but I didn't see any real rebellion like the clear refusal of Sarah Jessica Parker's character in State and Main. The actors in Sex is Comedy seem willing and professional even though they are naturally uncomfortable.
    Overall, despite its title, Sex is Comedy isn't funny or particularly insightful, and its focus is on the least interesting and least appealing character in the film.
  • Redlats
    January 7, 2009
    Redlats
    A movie about making a movie. The director in the film tries everything from cajoling to befriending to get a sex scene correctly played in her film. The last scene of this movie is the filming of that sex scene in the movie. I gotta say, it looks like they got it done right.
    ... read more
    But this movie seemed to take too long. I'm sure they could have achieved the same reaction from her audience in a movie half as long as it was.
  • guttersnipe28
    February 13, 2007
    guttersnipe28
    Disappointing work from French stalwart Breillat? Afraid so. Though highly interesting on paper, the execution of Sex Is Comedy falls well flat. The plot circles around (it might as well be a making of) A Ma Souer, her 2001 emotionally upsetting drama, regarding the difficulty of... read more creating a sex scene between two bickering actors. New names are adopted, but when the actress is re-used, there's no denying the AMS link.
    The main concern here is that Catherine is normally in her element delving into psycho-sexuality, but for this project she seems a million miles away. It's not insightful, it's not funny (as the title might suggest), and feels like it could have easily been a 20-minute skit instead of a 90-minute picture.
    All I really gleaned was that the actor used a prosthetic cock and that shooting sex scenes can sometimes be awkward. I never would have guessed that.
  • SunilJawahir
    May 2, 2008
    SunilJawahir
    This is like watching funny porn...except its not funny or sexy. It's just weird.
  • thesouthernlady
    May 28, 2008
    thesouthernlady
    I don't know what to say about this movie. It makes no sence. I have watched two times and still dont understand what it is about. I was lost. Looks like the movie is about a film trying to do a sex scene. Okay. Hmmmmm..... I don't know.
  • ac2010fz
    February 22, 2008
    ac2010fz
    Quite funny in some parts, and really illustrated the development of a film or a scene. Also, it showed a different relationship French directors had with their actors compare to Americans.
  • snarkerella
    June 1, 2007
    snarkerella
    I despise Catherine Breillat, she's my least favorite director. This is probably her best film, not that that says much. It's still unbelievably pretentious and disgusting, but it has its funny moments. Sorta.
  • seaott21
    March 23, 2007
    seaott21
    A great how to make a love scene with two shy actors and a very caring writer to her actors. A must see if you like French movies.
  • michaeltoddbackus
    March 1, 2007
    michaeltoddbackus
    Well acted and presented story that jumps right in and maybe gives away to much of the directors thought process. This move holds no punches and has solid performances across the board.
  • BrodyBabe82
    August 18, 2006
    BrodyBabe82
    I hate it when I watch movies that remind me of my life... And then when it's an okay movie that reminds me of my life it's even worse. But besides the point. The movie unfortunately is not as amazing as I would of hoped it would be. There were some good lines however about wh... read moreat its like to be a director which is so what my life is, so alot of the dialogue was very on key with what directors often go through. So it had good dialogue but rather poor direction and character development. It could of been so amazing.

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Critic Reviews

Ruthe Stein
December 24, 2004
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Annoying, soporific and, despite its title, singularly humorless. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
December 17, 2004
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Reminds us what a vulnerable undertaking acting can be, and what an intimate, manipulative, caring and torturous act directing is. Full Review

Terry Lawson
December 10, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

If Breillat's aim is demystifying how passion and desire are simulated on-screen, then Sex Is Comedy is successful. Full Review

Roger Ebert
December 3, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Sex Is Comedy is not sure what it's really about, or how to get there. Full Review

Ty Burr
December 3, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A rigorous and bracingly charming movie about moviemaking. Full Review

Allison Benedikt
December 2, 2004
Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune

Curious but small and lackluster film. Full Review

Desson Thomson
November 18, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

By Breillat's usually dire standards, this is practically a laff riot, and if you want to see her funniest, most accessible movie, this is the one to watch. Full Review

Carina Chocano
November 12, 2004
Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times

Breillat's first foray into comedy is playful, whip-smart and far breezier in both tone and look than the stylized gender polemics she's known for. Full Review

Peter Howell
November 12, 2004
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

As usual with Breillat, not much happens outside the boudoir. Full Review

Rick Groen
November 12, 2004
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

This is amusing, and even poignant in the final moments. But Breillat just can't help herself. Full Review

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Sex Is Comedy Trivia

  • Which movie is a comedy whit teenagers, that only think about sex?  Answer »
  • In which classic romantic comedy is Meg Ryan warned that "men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way?"   Answer »
  • In which classic romantic comedy is Meg Ryan warned that "men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way?"   Answer »
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