Customer Reviews

Sex in Chains (Gay-Themed Films of the German Silent Era)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're looking for something really lurid as the title suggests than you are going to be very disappointed. And it's a silent film to boot. On the other hand don't shy away from this film because of the title which is a literal translation from the German. A better title would be "Sex Imprisoned" for this movie is about what happens to a young couple when they are denied each other because the husband is sent to prison for accidentally killing a man who was harassing her. It is thoughtful, tastefully done, and deeply moving as it explores a variety of themes including a brutal and unfair penal system. In that regard it's a precursor to many Warner Brothers expose' movies of the 1930's such as 20,000 YEARS IN SING SING or THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL only more adult in its approach and subject matter.

The film was directed by William Dieterle who would shortly leave for Hollywood where he would make a number of memorable films including Charles Laughton's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA, and THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER. He also plays the lead role of the husband and shows that he was just as capable as an actor and could easily have made his living that way. The rest of the cast is fine with Mary Johnson a standout as the wife. The print used is in pretty good shape considering it's status as a banned film with the original German titlecards used and subtitled.

The piano score that accompanies the movie is appropriate but an orchestral score would have been nice considering the intensity of the material and its powerful uncomprimising ending. This is part of a new 3 film series GAY-THEMED FILMS OF THE GERMAN SILENT ERA from Kino International. It is my personal favorite of the three and is a remarkable film by any standards. If you enjoy thought provoking dramas and/or tragic romances then SEX IN CHAINS has a lot to offer. And don't be misled by the title!

Although this excellent film is billed as one of the 'gay-themed films of the German Silent Era', I actually got quite a lot more out of it, namely the issue of prisoners' emotional welfare and the effects of incarceration on both prisoners and their partners. The second part of the original German title reads: "the sexual plight of prisoners" ("Die Sexualnot der Gefangenen") and it is based on research and writing done on the subject under the heading "Eroticism in prison". The storyline emphasizes the point several times throughout that prison should not be mere punishment but rather a rehabilitation so that the released prisoner can continue leading a normal life. In fact, the lead character in this film is an advocate of prison reform, focussing on the emotional/sexual needs of prisoners. This alone made the content and message of the film very interesting and important to me, but the lonely wife of the prisoner is not forgotten: she has the same problems and also succumbs, leading both of them to emotional ruin. Emotions run high and are captured very expressively with the camera, which I also found a highlight of this film. The story and the way it is presented cinematically (with barely a hint at anything sexual) draws the viewer into the emotional viewpoints of the various characters involved, and also gets you thinking about the plight of prisoners, then and now. An excellent film with an important theme well worth viewing.

I purchased this DVD based on the information provided. Though it was entertaining, it was nothing like what the title or the description described.

Commande soi-disant "shipped" fin octobre 2009 et toujours pas arrivée ce 20 décembre 2009..... Comment faire pour se plaindre auprès d'Amazon?