Customer Reviews

Lifestyle: Swinging in America [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

do not show them this film. The swingers in "The Lifestyle" are the senior citizen variety. Not middle age boomers, mind you. We are talking post-retirement folks. Don't get me wrong...God bless these seniors and their active libidos. It's just that I was hoping that somewhere between the world of the tan, shaved, oiled hard-bodied early 20's performance swingers (ummm... are they all east of the Mississippi?) and this group of more relaxed, experienced swingers that this film would focus on the 30-50 year olds who make up a big chunk of swinger demographics. The folks who have kids who are growing up, or gone, and beginning to focus effort/energy on their relationships.

There was one couple in the film who were interesting on a number of different levels. You know... intelligent, attractive, thoughtful. Who end up leaving the lifestyle after it begins to have a negative affect on their marriage. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Taken as a documentary on a fraction of this burgeoning sub-culture I would give it a much higher score. The one star vote is based on the disappointment I experienced when I realized that this isn't the film that I will pop in when we are entertaining friends and we would like to see if they would like to take our relationships to a deeper level.

It is nice to see someone "attempt" to make a documentary about the "swinging lifestyle"- unfortunatly, this one misses the mark. One walks away from this film thinking that "swingers" are all 55+ yrs old and the only young people in the film almost break up.

The problem is simply that most younger, educated, attractive couples in the swinging lifestyle cannot go "public" and join in on a documentary. So what's left are people that misrepresent what's really out there. I hope one day someone can capture the excitement, diversity, variety and just plain fun that the swinging lifestyle provides. This film doesn't.

This documentary is not only very well made, but manages to push even the sexually liberated person's buttons by portraying for the most part swinging couples who for lack of a better term resemble most of our parents. The dichotomy between the middle class normality of these parental figures and their very liberated view of sexuality is most effective. I think if they had chosen to do a documentary using "the beautiful people" it would have been far less effective. It is a very spiritual, inimate portrayal of a a valid alternative to the marriage-divorce syndrome which is wrecking America's family life. Monogamy for life is not the only alternative any more for happy heterosexual couples. As a gay man who's sexual culture is so focused on physical beauty, it was refreshing to see normal looking people having good sex lives with other normal looking people and feeling sexy, desirable and fulfilled. Real life is neither Life With the Cleaver's nor a porn movie.

The world of swinging is extremely diverse. Talk to any swinger or read the forum boards for swingers and you will learn one thing. There are many types of swingers. Some swingers never go to Swing Clubs, Lifestyle Conventions, Swing Parties, or even participate in group sex. The variety is amazing. This documentary is wonderfully done and explores an older crowd of "swing partiers." I found it very insightful on many levels but was extremely limited, and SHOULD NOT be viewed as a definitive work. Not to mention, that the 'clubs' featured were extremely outdated. The swing clubs springing up across the nation are 'nightclub' format with wonderful dance floors and DJ's... but with a much friendlier crowd.

If a viewer clearly understands that this is just a sliver of what the swinging lifestyle experience could be then it is a must see.

The Lifestyle is a tremendous expose on a part of American Life you may or may not know much about. . . swinging. This film takes you where you may never get to go...inside the lives of swingers.l..their homes, their clubs, and their bedrooms. I saw this in the theater and was astounded by what I saw. Not that the film has that much 'raw' footage, but more in regard to what I learned. Check it out. Wonderfully wild:)

"The Lifestyle" maybe an accurate portrayal of late middle aged and senior swingers on the west coast, but it isnt even close towhat goes on east of the Mississippi. To anyone who buys this as as research , or is interested in the lifestyle, dont let this turn you off.

This doco opens a window into new room for watching sixty-plus ladies full of life and desire for ones' forty something husbands and vice versa.

A reviewer tries to believe that younger couples provided fun for free as environment depicted was rather of financially upper-sustainable sex-seekers.

In documentary incorporated, shoots of chimpanzee sexuality are the most lovely.

If you're in the Lifestyle, you've got to see this film!!! It is honest, positive, and true. This is what it's really like, not some snarky, sarcastic portryal like you usually find in the mainstream press. Finally a depiction of swinging that people in the lifestyle can be proud of -- and it's really funny. Check it out!!! You won't regret it.

Whether or not one is a heterosexual swinger or not, this marvelously done documentary provides some very human, spiritual, and realistic glimpses in the lives of some real sexual trailblazers. It made me rethink some of my sexual hangups...

This movie blew my mind. I didn't know there was anyone out there making films this cool. I'm really into anime, Russ Meyer, and other far-out stuff. This is by far the most intense movie experience I've had in years. And this DVD has cool extra footage. I only wish it had a commentary with the director. I really want to know what it was like to make this thing.