MAITRESSE

(Maitresse - French for Mistress)

This French film from the 70's is well worth a watch.

Since the French are far less squeamish about sex and kink in their films Maitresse lacks the cloying morality and censurious tentativeness of North American film-making.

A thief (played by a young and surprisingly buff and sexy Gerard Depardieu) gets more than he bargains for when he breaks into a house only to find the owner is a pro-dominitrix.

Fascinated by her as much as by her dungeon he becomes persistent in his attentions, and the resulting dysfunctional relationship takes them both on an intriguing, often obsessive journey.

Don't expect to see safe scenes of bondage or humiliation in this film. It's raw and unrealistic in terms of today's Safe, Sane, and Consensual dogma. But for anyone willing to put aside political correctness in favour of art and entertainment, Maitresse is a memorable and evocative film.

Depardieu plays his part as a rough and unsophisticated man who is quite in over his head. The director eschews the North American protocol of making the hero of the film upright and completely likable. Depardieu is real, not a storybook character. Love will not conquer all, nor do the characters really even believe it will. They are driven by deep desires and motivations they only partly understand; in essence, human above all else.

Pro-domme Ariane (played in delightful Emma Peel fashion by actress Bulle Olgier) is not looking for a saviour; she’s just trying to survive the best way she knows how. No damsel in distress, but no superwoman either. She’s not even sure she wants what Olivier (Depardieu) hopes to give her…freedom from a life he views as simple prostitution.

The dungeon is mouth-wateringly sinister, Olgier’s fetish outfits are straight out of the fantasies of most men. This film is not candy, but it can certainly be sweet on the eyes.

Watch it for Depardieu's once amazing body if nothing else.

Maitresse's imbd site.

KINKY BOOTS

While not a kinky movie in the strictest sense, Kinky Boots is likely to appeal to all of us who enjoy seeing the underdog triumph over adversity and small-mindedness.

When Charlie Price (Australian actor, Joel Edgerton) inherits the family shoe factory upon his father’s death, he’s dismayed to learn that the business is about to go under. Charlie himself is ambiguous about the factory that was his father’s passion, but he sure doesn’t want to have to tell all those loyal employees, many he has known all his life, that they are about to be unemployed.

Prospects for a happy solution to this unfortunate situation seem dim.

Enter Lola.

Lola (talented Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a drag queen, and a cabaret singer, who has a chip on his shoulders, and an awful big complaint. His feet, and the lack of good fetish boots available for drag queens in general.

Between Lola, and love interest, Lauren (charming Sarah-Jane Potts) they manage to convince Charlie that the only way to keep the factory alive is to use it to produce fetish boots for men.

Charlie is reluctant, but probably not as reluctant as the employees he must convince to trust and support him on this venture. Of course, jobs are hard to find so, despite their natural inclination to shun such a radical concept, the employees agree and the plan is set in motion.

What follows is a poignant, charming adventure as this disparate group of desperate individuals seeks to make the most of a difficult transition. Everyone must confront their prejudices, and learn tolerance and empathy if the enterprise is to succeed.

Although this is, in essence, a comedy, it’s very poignant and real; the message of tolerance for others is only surpassed by its equally powerful message of tolerance for oneself.

Based on a true story, this film from the UK brings to mind such wonderful movies as The Full Monty and Calendar Girls. The humour is pure wit, and the characters are people you can give your heart to.

You don’t have to be kinky to enjoy this film you just have to be human!

Kinky Boots IMDB site.