9 Songs
Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Starring: Margot Stilley; Kieran O’Brien.
Well what to say about this film, controversial at the least, ground-breaking at the most. This movie revolves around two people’s sexual lives, interspaced by their love of live concerts. We see live performances by Franz Ferdinand, The Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream, The Von Blondies, Elbow, Super Furry Animals and Michael Nyman; all these bands play great music during the film. The other half of the film is about Lisa (played by Margo Stilley) and Matt (played by Kieran O’Brien) and their casual but intensive sex life. It’s hard at first to think what to make of this movie, because it is intensive and in your face, maybe even ground-breaking. But why? Well, simply Michael Winterbottom is the first to use actual sex scenes, rather than the usual Hollywood, simulated sex scene. After the first song/scene in this movie we suddenly get thrown into a room with Lisa and Matt having sex up against the wall, needless to say, the first question that come into one’s head is, who are these people? As one watches the movie we slowly get more information about these two people, both about their physical needs and their personalities. Needless to say this is one of the most explicit movies I have ever seen depicting sex, the question is: Is it Art or just Pornography? I would have to argue for Art in this case, even though at times I was a little uncertain how I was supposed to take the scenes, without the sexual intimacy we would have not seen the characters’ inner being exposed to the audience for their critical observations.
See this movie if you are not easily offended or enjoy a new look at an old topic, otherwise I recommend that you see something else like Travellers and Magicians.
Alex MG
In this most modern love story ‘boy meets girl’, or is it ‘girl meets boy’, at prestigious rock concert in Brixton. They fall easily into bed, and uninhibited sex, followed by more concerts and more uninhibited sex.
Even non-simulated, this “sexually explicit” lovemaking, between consenting, attractive, adult heterosexuals is, in the present day context, not only refreshing but downright decent.
Lisa, an American student living in London has a streamlined androgynous body and an insatiable appetite for sex.
Matt a ruggedly handsome geologist, has a well endowed, softly downed body and can almost meet her need.
Is this Generation X, Y, or Z? Whichever, it is different. Lisa states a clear preference for uncomplicated, ‘protected sex’. They are sophisticated drug users and ‘do a line’ purely to enhance their pleasure. That which might have troubled their predecessors hardly causes a ripple. But there are remnants. Matt appears to display an instinct for ‘nesting’ or is it for ‘territory’?
Told retrospectively by Matt, we view this relationship between his exploration of ‘time encapsulated’ in the stark Antarctic ice and the mostly throbbing base of the exclusive live performances of the 9 songs; Franz Ferdinand, The Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream, The Von Bondies, Elbow, Super Furry Animals and Michael Nyamn: And all the while we watch their beautiful bodies slide over and into and out of and into each other again and again — and then there is that dogged sniffing at the limits of intimacy.
Not as erotic or perhaps as true as other films of this genre, 9 Songs is of our time and our culture. It is a steadfast scrutiny of what comes to pass between this boy and girl and we, given the opportunity, watch vigilantly, that we might understand why Matt is now alone.
Lou Crow
