Sex, Bodies, and Cinema

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley explore Halina Reijn’s daring 2024 film Baby Girl , starring Nicole Kidman as Romy, a high-powered CEO whose carefully managed life spirals when she begins a dangerous affair with a much younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson. Co-starring Sophie Wilde and Antonio Banderas, the film pushes into charged territory—blurring lines betwee...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley are joined by author and educator Jamie Lee Finch to explore An Education (2009), a coming-of-age drama directed by Lone Scherfig and written by Nick Hornby. The film, based on journalist Lynn Barber’s memoir, follows Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a bright schoolgirl in 1960s London, who becomes entangled with an older, charming con man, Davi...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley dive deep into Stanley Kubrick’s provocative 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut , starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The film follows Dr. Bill Harford on a bizarre, night-long journey through the hidden worlds of desire and secrecy after his wife, Alice, shares her secret fantasy of another man. As Bill navigates his own sexual awakening, the...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley dive into Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001), a provocative coming-of-age road trip film that follows two teenage boys, Julio (Gael García Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), who embark on a journey to the coast with a much older woman, Luisa (Maribel Verdú). Set against the backdrop of political upheaval in Mexico, the film explore...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley dive into Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz (2011), a poignant and emotional drama that explores the complexities of desire, fidelity, and the search for meaning in relationships. Starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman, the film follows Margot (Williams), a married woman who finds herself torn between her s...

In this episode, we dive deep into the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct , directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. The film follows a troubled police detective, Nick Curran, as he investigates the brutal murder of a rock star that leads him into a complex, manipulative relationship with the seductive suspect, Catherine Tramell, played by Sharon Stone. With its provocative explor...

We dive into the 2016 masterpiece Moonlight , written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Moonlight explores the journey of a young African-American man, Chiron, as he navigates his identity, sexuality, and the complexities of growing up, with each chapter of his life portrayed by a different actor. The film is split into thr...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley dive into Laurel Parmet’s The Starling Girl (2023), a coming-of-age drama about Jem Starling (played by Eliza Scanlen), a 17-year-old navigating her place in a repressive Christian fundamentalist community. The film takes a bold look at sexuality, autonomy, and the clash between religious doctrine and personal desires, especially when J...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema , Jason and Ashley are joined by special guest Garland Jarmon, a sex and intimacy coach from Seattle, Washington, to dive into the surreal and provocative world of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things (2023). Starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe, this bold film follows Bella Baxter’s extraordinary journey of self-discovery, autonomy, and embodimen...

In this episode of Sex, Bodies and Cinema , we explore Lance Young’s 1997 film, Bliss , starring Craig Sheffer, Sheryl Lee, and Terence Stamp. The story follows a married couple seeking therapy to address intimacy challenges, ultimately diving into themes of trauma, healing, and embodiment. With Terence Stamp’s enigmatic Balthazar as their guide, the couple confronts hidden parts of themselves and...