The Pursuit of Pleasure
Maryanne Galvin's "Pleasure visits seven disparate women who muse aloud upon their societal roles, their hidden passions and their sexuality (or even -- whoa -- their celibacy). Sleeker and more somber than its counterpart, this doc thinks way outside the box (and the tube), offering the insights of a surgeon, a former sex addict and a sociologist/stripper, a not-naughty nurse and even brazen bowling babes. Their common trait? That "opportunities for deep and abiding pleasure must be seized."
-The Riverfront Times, St. Louis
Best of the Festival - Berkeley Video & Film Festival 2005
The Freedom Cinema Festival Park City 2005
The Goa International Film Festival, Goa India 2005
Special Recognition in Documentary - Boston International Film Festival, 2004
Grand Prize, Providence Film Award, Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2004
The St. Louis International Film Festival, 2004
The Reel Women International Film Festival, 2005
The New Hampshire Film Expo, 2004
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2004
Screened at Boston Architectural Center
”The Pursuit of Pleasure” is a lively documentary film challenging commonly held beliefs about female sexuality, gender roles, relationships, and satisfaction.Seven articulate, highly diverse women discuss marriage, celibacy, sexuality, sensuality, incest, gender roles, beauty, sisterhood, community, intimacy and work.
The women, ranging from a GenX midwife to a 94-year-old psychologist and sex therapist, offer varied perspectives on the evolution of Pleasure since the US Women's Movement began over 40 years ago.They are not high profile activists, but instead real women whose lives are affected by changes in society.
The film intertwines in-depth candid interviews, historical footage, family photos and original music to create a riveting exploration of some of life’s major issues: These women interrogate Pleasure and examine our core desires: joy, physicality, friendship, food, leisure, nature and privacy.
Recent research suggests that women may be having less sex today than women did in the 1950's. Increasingly, women rate self-knowledge, efficacy, communication, emotional closeness and connection higher than hot sex.The ultimate question posed to the women interviewed in the film is whether intimacy and pleasure without sex is just as satisfying as it's more advertised opposite, sex without intimacy.
Cast and Crew:
- Written, Directed, Produced and Edited by Maryanne Galvin
- Narrated by Annie Copps
- Camera Operation by Maryanne Galvin
- Musical score created and performed by Andrea Gillis, Tom Herbert and Eric McDonough
- Consultant/Additional Editing by Franco Sacchi
- Narration Audio Mix by Tony Baglio
- Production Assistance by Joe Mulligan
- Press Kit Design by Donna de Almeida
- Publicity by Ellen Gitelman, American Graphiti
Excerpts from the Film
Purchasing
Galvin's films have screened at various high schools, colleges, universities, libraries, community organizations and are available for purchase at Forward in Time. To purchase copies for personal home use, please visit CreateSpace.
Before you purchase, please read: Public Performance Rights