The Sessions (2012)

Directed by: Ben Lewin
Country: USA

Review: “The Sessions” is an independent drama based on Mark O’Brien’s essay “On Seeing a Sex Surrogate”. Mark contracted polio in 1955 and got paralyzed for the rest of his days, a fact that didn't prevent him from graduate and become a poet. The plot is centered in his decision of losing virginity, when he was 38. For that, he will count with a sex therapist, but nothing will be done before consulting his adviser and friend, Father Brendan. This priest, who looked more like a hippie or a veteran rock star, could serve as a good example on showing how to approach such a delicate theme as sex, with wisdom and good sense. At some point, I found myself impatient, hoping that Mark could achieve rapidly his goal. John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H.Macy were convincing in “The Sessions”, a gentle, sensitive and humorous film that was able to escape to sentimental excesses by adopting a positive and straightforward attitude.