The Secretary, now what?

January 19, 2009 1:08 PM

Me and my girlfriend got a total kick out of watching The Secretary together. If you know what I mean :) What other films should we watch together?

IMDB recommends some foreign language films which I know nothing about. I think we'd prefer them in English, with a decent plot.

I don't think it was the BDSM element that we liked, but I think the fact that it's a slight taboo made it more interesting, along with the slow burning sexual anticipation.

So what does the hive mind suggest to get us in the mood?

posted by anonaccount to media & arts (32 comments total)

Maybe Bound? The tension there is between two women.
posted by salvia at 1:23 PM on January 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Shortbus
Lie With Me
posted by meerkatty at 1:23 PM on January 19

Higher kink factor than Secretary and definitely not everyone's idea of 'hot', but they do both delve in the darker/weirder side of sexuality and are both seeped with a strong sense of style:

Blue Velvet
Crash

Bound gets a recommendation from me too.
posted by slimepuppy at 1:25 PM on January 19

You are probably going to know within about 10 minutes whether or not Shortbus is for you.
posted by RustyBrooks at 1:25 PM on January 19

The original Swept Away, perhaps.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:26 PM on January 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Sorry, missed the "English preferred".

If its YKIOK-ness was what you liked Secretary for, there's Kissed.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:28 PM on January 19

Buffalo 66
The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover
Singapore Sling
posted by sswiller at 1:30 PM on January 19

'Bound' for sure.
posted by sswiller at 1:30 PM on January 19

Young People Fucking, maybe.
posted by logic vs love at 1:31 PM on January 19

Well if you are talking about sexy films, with maybe a bit of kink, try The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Terrific film and quite a bit of fairly graphic sex. And hats.

You may also like The Dreamers.

I should point out however, that the above films are not really about sex, they just have very well done erotic moments in them. They're actually kind of downers - no happy endings I'm afraid.

And for a kind of sleeper films, maybe:

Bliss - Not a spectacular film, and a woeful misrepresentation of yoga/tantra but good performaces and the entire film is about sex.

Swimming Pool - a sort of abstract film with a very sexy nymphette and a possible mystery. Strange ending.
posted by elendil71 at 1:33 PM on January 19

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover is a terrific film - but its taboos aren't sexual (unless adultery counts) and it comes nowhere near having a "decent plot".
posted by Joe Beese at 1:34 PM on January 19

Thief of Hearts
posted by Kirklander at 1:40 PM on January 19

i came in to say the dreamers and shortbus as well. also, possibly, tipping the velvet.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:50 PM on January 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

I know you've asked for films in English, but your question makes my mind jump immediately to Nagisa Oshima's In The Realm of the Senses. It's a real groundbreaker; hell, I don't think I've seen many films that are quite as shocking. The element of taboo is played to full effect there, as well. I've seen Shortbus, and while I liked it, it has a very positive, open attitude toward sex which, while probably well-advised, is not nearly so edgy as the taboo sort of thing you're describing.

In The Realm Of The Senses is a remarkable movie about a powerful man and his lowly mistress who comes to dominate him in every way imaginable. I mean that literally - every way imaginable - though I won't spoil the plot. It has for many years been the best example of one of those movies that makes everybody ask "art or porn?", though I personally think that the fact that you even have to ask that question makes the question unimportant.

It's fun to watch. And a little scary. But fun.
posted by koeselitz at 1:54 PM on January 19

If you like your light kink kushed in a somewhat cheesy 80s aesthetic, you may like Nine 1/2 Weeks.

Is it nine half-weeks, or is it nine-and-half-weeks? You'll have to watch it to find out... (Argh!)
posted by heyho at 2:05 PM on January 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

How about 9 songs. It's a pretty sleepy movie in terms of plot, but the sex is, er, real.
posted by ndicecco at 2:13 PM on January 19

The remake of Lolita is very sexy. Also recommend The Lover which is similar. It's been a long time since I've seen it but I'm fairly certain it's in English.

And yeah, Secretary is great.
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 2:41 PM on January 19

Showgirls... laughing together is very conducive to good times.
posted by lottie at 3:02 PM on January 19

Tampopo
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 3:23 PM on January 19

These are all in Spanish, with one exception:
Sex and Lucia
Mediterraneo [Italian]
Taboo-wise, you can't do better than Almodovar:
Tie me Up! Tie me Down!
Kika
Talk To Her
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:07 PM on January 19

The sexual content in Velvet Goldmine is all man-on-man, but when the men are Ewan MacGregor and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers...
posted by mgrichmond at 4:23 PM on January 19

Little Children Kate Winslet. Jennifer Connelley. Nuff Said.
posted by philad at 4:36 PM on January 19

It's not in English, but Romance was one of the hottest films I'd ever seen. For your intended purpose, I highly recommend.
posted by 8dot3 at 4:45 PM on January 19

Watch Gia. Angelina Jolie as an issue-laden, bisexual model.
posted by pinksoftsoap at 4:59 PM on January 19

Henry & June, a movie about Henry Miller, his wife June, and Anais Nin.

And seconding the suggestion for Swimming Pool, which you can watch free here.
posted by Houstonian at 5:30 PM on January 19

Brokeback Mountain...
posted by nzydarkxj at 6:27 PM on January 19

Quills
posted by inconsequentialist at 7:16 PM on January 19

Damage, perhaps.

I'll also recommend the remake of Lolita. Very well done--smokes the original.

Intimacy, perhaps. But it's not a happy story, it just has real sex in it and great acting.

And I'll vote against Shortbus. Really boring film that thinks it's edgy because of a lot of nudity and "unusual" sex scenarios. If you watch it, bring a good book.

You might also like the tv show, Tell Me You Love Me. I think it's HBO but might be Showtime or something like that.

If you're not against french films, The Hairdresser's Husband is a fantastic romance that is very erotic. By the same director is the phenomenal Girl on a Bridge (which has light BDSM elements and is very erotic) and Monsieur Hire. These three are among the most erotic *good* movies I've ever seen.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:01 PM on January 19

Wild at Heart: so very fucked up, but also kind of sweet.
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:22 AM on January 20

Belle de Jour
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 7:54 AM on January 20

I highly recommend

"When night is falling"
"High Art" and
"The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love"

I know I have a lesbian theme going on here but these are some of my favorite movies and I think they all fit into what you are looking for.

taboo and slow burning sexual anticipation.

I hope this is helpful.
posted by SheMulp AKA Plus 1 at 10:23 AM on January 20

two girls and a guy.
posted by nadawi at 1:55 PM on March 8