Summary

This movie is the story of "The Romantic Chase" that happens between two 20-something persons, one of whom is deeply rooted in the dynamics of bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism (BDSM). The story revolves around the seduction of a senior college girl by a slightly older alumni businessman. His awkward manner and methods of presenting his needs to her, exacerbated by her personal inexperience and insecurities, create conflict and drama between the characters. Unfortunately, the character development is poor and the pace of the movie is slow. The movie has no real plot, and therefore no sense of resolution, since it is really only an introduction to the characters and their attempt at a relationship. This is a weakness in the screenwriter's plot development when parsing the books, since each movie should provide the viewer with some sense of issue resolution. Therefore, as entertainment, the movie leaves the viewer unsatisfied, as opposed to simply wanting more. The value of this movie is that it presents the problem of taboo sex within an apparently normal relationship. The viewer has an opportunity to examine his/her own desires and fears about BDSM. Various behaviors are presented which some viewers may not have the relationship knowledge necessary to properly identify and differentiate. While the movie contains a clear discussion of the issue of consent, the needs of "informed" consent are not properly addressed. Personal boundaries create the major source of angst for the characters, but the movie fails to explore the differences between consensual BDSM and domestic abuse. BDSM should always be freely desired by each partner for the mutual satisfaction of both partners, rather than demanded by one partner for his/her own selfish needs. This movie is a primer for BDSM Dom/sub relationships, but it inadvertently highlights more potential abuse issues than the positive catharsis that motivates most BDSM practitioners. Please look for my entry under the "Comments" section for some of my thoughts on the characters and the value of Dom/sub relationships.