A Sexplanation Explained

A Sexplanation
Director:Alex Liu
Producer:Steven Flynn
Starring:Alex Liu
Music:Moritz Schmittat
Cinematography:Brian Emerick
Editing:Brian Emerick, Alex Liu
Studio:Herra Productions
Runtime:81 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

A Sexplanation is a 2021 American documentary film directed by and starring Alex Liu, a Chinese American independent filmmaker. The film, which explores issues concerning sexual stigma, shame, pleasure, and pride in the context of debates over comprehensive sex education,[1] [2] follows Liu as he travels the United States and Canada to interview researchers, therapists, educators, authors, political leaders, and activists, including those at the Kinsey Institute, Planned Parenthood, and San Francisco Sex Information.

Cast

Release

A Sexplanation had its world premiere at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival from March 20–30, 2021 [3] [4] winning the Audience Award for Feature Documentary.

The film had its international premiere at the Inside Out LGBTQ Film Festival May 27-June 6, 2021 in Toronto, where it also won the Audience Award for Feature Documentary.[5]

The film also aired on the American television channel Fuse TV beginning in May 2022.[6] [7]

Reception

Critical response

A Sexplanation was a New York Times Critic's Pick with writer Claire Shaffer saying, "Liu lends a frankness and sensitivity to the topic that would make “A Sexplanation” suitable to be shown in a classroom..."[8]

Phuong Le of The Guardian wrote, "Alex Liu makes for a charismatic guide to the sexual landscape of America, with an engaging curiosity to help demystify the birds and the bees... it sparkles with an engaging curiosity."[9]

Noel Murray from The Los Angeles Times described the film as "an entertaining movie with admirable intentions, pushing the audience to rethink their presumptions about pleasure."[10]

Randy Myers of The Mercury News wrote, "[Liu] makes a charming guide ... Breezy and engaging." KQED arts critic Michael Fox said "A Sexplanation is an irreverent, informative and disarming road trip ... and deserves to be disseminated as widely as possible." Pat Mullen of POV Magazine wrote the movie was "Fun, informative, and sex-positive ... A Sexplanation unabashedly puts the "d" in doc."[11]

Gary Kramer from Salon reviewed the film saying, "Alex Liu's smart, lively, and thoughtful documentary about sex education — both his in particular and America's in general. Liu's goal is to talk honestly and even vulnerably, about sex, and he covers topics ranging from masturbation and pornography to taboo fantasies to demystify sex and the shame often associated with it. It is through his discussions with his own parents, as well as sex educators and researchers — and even a Catholic priest — that he normalizes dialogue about a topic most folks would prefer not to discuss. 'A Sexplanation' is certainly a conversation starter, and like the numerous interviewees, the ingratiating Liu treats the topic respectfully, and with a healthy curiosity, which is why it is so gratifying."[12]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 27 reviews.[13]

Accolades

!Year!Award!Category!Result!Ref.
2021Asian American International Film FestivalAudience Award for Best Documentary FeatureWon[14]
2021Cinequest Film & Creativity FestivalAudience Award for Feature DocumentaryWon[15]
2021Cleveland International Film FestivalAd Hoc Docs CompetitionNominated[16]
2021DC Asian Pacific American Film FestivalBest Documentary FeatureWon[17]
2021Honolulu Rainbow Film FestivalBest Documentary FeatureWon[18]
2021InsideOut LGBTQ Film FestivalAudience Award for Best DocumentaryWon[19]
2021Phoenix Film FestivalDonor’s Choice Competition Feature FilmWon[20]
2021Red Rock Film FestivalBest Documentary FeatureNominated[21]
2021Reel Q Pittsburgh International LGBT FestivalBest Documentary FilmWon[22]
2021São Paulo International Film FestivalNew Directors Competition / Best FilmNominated[23]
2021Tallgrass Film FestivalOutstanding First FeatureWon[24]
2022Paris International Film FestivalBest Documentary For Change / Audience AwardWon[25]
2023The QueertiesBest DocumentaryNominated[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mullen . Pat . 2021-05-27 . Putting the D in Doc: Alex Liu Talks A Sexplanation . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323145950/https://povmagazine.com/putting-the-d-in-doc-alex-liu-talks-a-sexplanation/ . 2023-03-23 . 2023-03-23 . POV Magazine . en-US.
  2. Web site: 'Maybe I would have less shame': Alex Liu's new documentary is about reducing the stigma around sex ed . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323155125/https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/conservatorships-qanon-documenary-guacamole/a-sexplanation-film . 2023-03-23 . 2023-03-23 . KCRW . en.
  3. News: Myers . Randy . Cinequest 2021: Here are 12 films to see at San Jose's virtual fest . . March 17, 2021 . August 7, 2021. March 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210317034848/https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/16/cinequest-2021-here-are-12-films-to-see-at-san-joses-virtual-fest/ . live .
  4. News: Fox . Michael. Now Playing! One of the Best Films We'll See All Year . . March 3, 2021 . August 7, 2021 . March 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210322040036/https://www.kqed.org/arts/13894240/now-playing-one-of-the-best-films-well-see-all-year . live .
  5. News: Hipes . Patrick. Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Winners Include Turkey's 'Love, Spells And All That', UK's 'Sweetheart'. . June 7, 2021 . August 7, 2021 . June 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210608043929/https://deadline.com/2021/06/inside-out-2slgbtq-film-festival-2021-winners-list-1234770852/ . live .
  6. Web site: Chapman . Wilson . 2022-06-01 . 'A Sexplanation' Director Alex Liu Unpacks the Failures of Sex Education in America . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321204216/https://variety.com/video/a-sexplanation-alex-liu-doc-dreams/ . 2023-03-21 . 2023-03-23 . Variety . en-US.
  7. Web site: Grobar . Matt . 2022-04-22 . 'I Don't Want To Drink Your Blood Anymore', 'Forgive Me Father', 'Abigail', 'Condition Of Return', 'Bellmount' And 'Rabbit Hole' Set Casts; Acquisitions By Grindstone, MarVista, Freestyle, More – Film Briefs . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323174706/https://deadline.com/2022/04/i-dont-want-to-drink-your-blood-anymore-forgive-me-father-abigail-condition-of-return-bellmount-and-rabbit-hole-set-casts-acquisitions-by-grindstone-marvista-freestyle-1235006810/ . 2023-03-23 . 2023-03-23 . Deadline . en-US.
  8. News: Shaffer . Claire . 2022-06-07 . 'A Sexplanation' Review: Sex Education Fit for a Classroom . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320183550/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/movies/a-sexplanation-review.html . 2023-03-20 . 0362-4331.
  9. News: Le . Phuong . 2022-05-31 . A Sexplanation review – a personal study of the inadequacy of sex education . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320190713/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/31/a-sexplanation-review-alex-liu-sex-education . 2023-03-20 . 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: Murray . Noel . 2022-06-10 . Review: 'The Janes' tell their abortion stories and 'The Righteous' does a slow burn . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320190954/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-06-10/review-janes-abortion-righteous-northman . 2023-03-20 . 2023-03-20 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  11. News: Mullen . Pat. Putting the D in Doc: Alex Liu Talks 'A Sexplanation'. . May 27, 2021 . August 7, 2021 . August 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808022546/http://povmagazine.com/articles/view/sexplanation-alex-liu-documentary-interview . live .
  12. News: Kramer . Gary. There's no shame in "A Sexplanation," a fun, honest documentary that steps in where sex ed left off. . June 17, 2021 . August 7, 2021 . August 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210806050557/https://www.salon.com/2021/06/17/a-sexplanation-alex-liu/ . live .
  13. Web site: A Sexplanation - Rotten Tomatoes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320193242/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_sexplanation . 2023-03-20 . 2023-03-20 . . en.
  14. Web site: Asian American International Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb.
  15. Web site: Cinequest San Jose Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb.
  16. Web site: Cleveland International Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  17. Web site: DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  18. Web site: Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  19. Web site: Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb.
  20. Web site: Awards . 2023-03-20 . Phoenix Film Festival . en-US.
  21. Web site: Red Rock Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  22. Web site: Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  23. Web site: São Paulo International Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.
  24. Web site: Tallgrass International Film Festival (2021) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb.
  25. Web site: Higgins . John . 2022-02-20 . Paris International Film Festival 2022: Award Winners Announced . 2023-03-20 . Film and TV Now . en-US.
  26. Web site: The Queerties (2023) . 2023-03-20 . IMDb . en.

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