How to Lose Your Virginity
US | 2013 | 66 minutes | Color | DVD | Order No. 131114
SYNOPSIS
This hilarious, eye-opening, occasionally alarming documentary uses the filmmaker’s own path out of virginity to explore its continuing value in our otherwise hypersexualized society. Layering vérité interviews and vintage sex-ed films with candid self-reflection and wry narration, Shechter reveals myths, dogmas and misconceptions behind this "precious gift." Sex educators, porn producers, abstinence advocates, and outspoken teens share their own stories of having - or not having - sex.
In a culture where "Be sexy, but don’t have sex" is the overwhelming message to young women, the film goes through the looking glass to understand a milestone almost everyone thinks about but no one actually understands.
PRESS
"In spite of the fascinating and telling historical context, the true triumph of HOW TO LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY is in how relatable it is."
"...ambitious but successful film...HOW TO LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY is very well done…approaches the difficult subject with warmth and humor. I recommend it for anyone who desires a serious, grown-up, critical overview of the issue of sex and virginity in contemporary America."
"Entertaining and thought-provoking, this is recommended."
“Having demonstrated the ability to craft an engaging and entertaining film [I Was A Teenage Feminist] and to effectively incorporate her own story without losing sight of the broader issues, Shechter seems like the perfect filmmaker to tackle the complexities around virginity. It’s a topic that far too many people are obsessed about – probably for all the wrong reasons – so the film is sure to stimulate interest and provoke heated debate."
"If you, like me, are an avid fan of Shechter’s 2005 film I Was a Teenage Feminist - a spirited exploration of the trials and tribulations of contemporary feminism - then you too may enjoy her personal and thoughtful approach to her current documentary-in-progress."
"Shechter covers all of her bases, and leaves no sexual stone unturned...Her ability to teach, dismantle, expose and explore is remarkable."
"Virginity is a powerful and malleable concept, as evidenced by the teenagers in Therese Shechter’s smart, funny and provoking documentary."
"Shechter gets us talking about our V-cards (whether we’ve cashed them in or whether we’re holding on tight) and creates an important documentary in the process."
“Therese Shechter thinks about sex a lot. A lot…her work actually tackles one of the last taboos in our culture’s discussion of sex – the deliberate decision not to participate in it."
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Therese Shechter is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of the production company Trixie Films. Over the past 20 years, she's created a body of work that fuses humor, activism, and personal storytelling to explore the expectations around women’s roles and identities.
Therese’s most recent film MY SO-CALLED SELFISH LIFE, is a revolutionary documentary about one of our greatest social taboos: choosing not to become a mother. The film is the third in her series of documentaries investigating all that is sacred about womanhood, including I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST and HOW TO LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY.
Her documentaries have screened on television, streamed online, and appeared in film festivals from Rio de Janeiro to Istanbul to Seoul. Her work is in the collections of hundreds of universities, non-profits, and libraries, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, Elle, and Ms. Magazine, among others. (08/07)
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