The Sexual Life of Us

Sex sells. Sex and fear sells more - thus the profusion of so-called sexperts offering gratuitous advice on our shortcomings in the intimate gymnastics department. Glossy magazines are the worst offenders but documentary makers like to get down and dirty, too. Happily, The Sexual Life of Usis an exception.

It takes a sociological view of Australia's sex life rather than offering tips on "You Go Cowgirl" Kama Sutra pleasure positions or the get-it-on guide to mind-blowing orgasms and handling his/her/their hottest urges.

In a nutshell, over two nights, this locally made doco takes us into the Australian bedroom over the past century through interviews with 20 people aged 18-104. The group includes virgin brides, a war bride, an inter-racial bride, coy men, a bisexual blade, an only gay in the village and a wannabe Lothario.

They're sweet and speak frankly about what goes on when the lights go out. There's a winning authenticity to their tales of pleasures taken, abstinence, love and loss but they contain too few surprises to make it, well, stimulating viewing.

There's no danger of the viewer being playfully touched, licked, stroked or mounted. The pleasure and novelty of sex are only touched upon. Instead,The Sexual Life of Us feels like something that might be accompanied by text labels. Something you might enjoy for a few minutes if you ducked into a museum while waiting for a spot of rain to clear.

Fergus Shiel, Reviewer
March 6, 2008
The Age

The Sexual Life of Us

A frank, sensitive, intelligent documentary on a subject few would find uninteresting.

The two-part documentary by Jenny Ainge charts changing attitudes to sex in Australia from the beginning of the 20th century to the present, combining stock footage with a series of remarkably candid interviews.

In broad terms the story is familiar - a gradual relaxation of attitudes to sex - but what makes this more than mere social history is the emphasis on real people. Ainge interviews more than 20 Australians, the oldest a spritely 104, the youngest just 18.

The interviews are simply filmed, with the subjects talking straight to camera and the interviewer (Ainge) out of frame. The subjects are frank, honest and unembarrassed, testimony to the rapport Ainge must have built.

Tonight's episode covers the period to the early 1970s, so the focus here is on the older interviewees. It's fascinating to hear their stories, not just for the perspective they provide on very different times but also because their voices are so rarely heard in discussions about sexuality.

Given the time frame, this episode is the bleaker of the two, often concerned with guilt, repression and ignorance. Things brighten up considerably next week as we hit the swinging '60s and the emphasis shifts to the younger subjects.

The Sexual Life Of Us is not without its flaws. Some of the stock footage - roller-coasters, trains going through tunnels, waves crashing on rocks - is desperately cheesy and at times it seems as though Ainge has simply strung together the recollections of her subjects rather than constructing them in a way that presents an over-arcing theme.

Nevertheless, this is a sensitive, intelligent documentary on a subject few would find uninteresting.
Greg Hassall, reviewer
March 6, 2008 
Sydney Morning Herald