Body Love (5 Stars)

I've never felt so overwhelmed at the prospect of writing a review. Sometimes my reviews are only a few lines long. Sometimes I write short essays. This is a film that I feel I ought to write a whole book about. So where do I start?

This is a pornographic film. What's the definition of the word "pornography"? The word is commonly used, though many people don't know what it means. First used in 1769, it meant writing about sex, i.e. it described erotic literature. With the development of new technologies it was later applied to photos or films of sexual activities, so its meaning was broadened to the depiction of sex in any media. This means that nude photos cannot be described as pornographic unless they are involved in sexual activities such as masturbation. Since pornography is about the depiction of sex, it also means that sex itself is not pornographic, even if performed in public. In films, pornography is commonly divided into "hard porn" and "soft porn". In hard porn actual sex is filmed; in soft porn the sex is faked, for instance the actors are lying on top of one another, but the camera angle disguises the fact that no penetration is taking place.

Ever since films were first invented sex was filmed. For more than 50 years pornography in films followed a different course to mainstream cinema. Non-pornographic films became longer and more detailed; pornographic films typically lasted no more than 10 minutes. They were commonly called "loops", because they were shown repeatedly. While mainstream cinema was developing into an art form to rival the written word, pornographic films remained on the level of crude masturbation help.

Enter Lasse Braun in the early 1960's. He was an Italian born in France as the son of a diplomat. His early work with pornography involved the production and distribution of loops. He also campaigned actively for the repeal of the laws against pornography. In the 1970's he began to make longer pornographic films which actually had plots, something unknown in filmed pornography. "Body Love", made in 1977, was the peak of his career, and is still considered by many to be the greatest pornographic film ever made. I'm no expert in pornography, but I would doubt that the final orgy scene with 18 participants has ever been bettered.

The film has a simple plot that strings together the various sex scenes. Martine is the daughter of a baron who has married a porn actress. As far as men are concerned, she's still a virgin, though she's had sex with women. Her father holds regular spiritual meetings at his castle, which involve meditation and sex. He wants Martine to finally lose her virginity at the next meeting, despite her reluctance to attend.

The whole film is a surreal masterpiece, but the final orgy scene is unforgettable. Martine enters the room as a ballet dancer, dancing in front of the mostly naked guests who are meditating motionless. One by one she touches and caresses them, bringing them to life, so that they begin to have sex with one another and with her. After tumultuous activity, highlighted by music performed by Klaus Schulze, everyone is lying on the floor, asleep or at least exhausted. Martine walks through the bodies, leaves the room and closes the door behind her. The end of one life, the beginning of another.

At a later date I intend to write about Klaus Schulze, the uncredited musician who wrote the music for the film. It's too much to write about today. The film itself is difficult, though not impossible, to find. It's been reprinted in small editions by different companies over the last 10 years. The picture above links to the outstanding soundtrack album.