What kind of images were projected on the big screen in Linhart Hall on Thursday evening that even the projector held its breath and afforded the audience a few moments of darkness to clear their throats, fix their dress and recross their legs?

“A medley of sex, surrealism and drama.” That was how Exterminating Angels was described by French director Jean-Claude Brisseau, an old acquaintance of LIFFe’s, who welcomed the spectators with one of his leading actresses, Lisa Bellynck. And then the reel began to roll …

The announced experimental cocktail of female sexuality, surrealist images and dramatic reversals intoxicated the eager audience already after the first few takes. The key (controversial) character is the director François, attempting to unveil the biggest secrets of female intimacy and shoot some of the most stigmatised ‘activities’. He is motivated by the confessions of young women, their needs, desires, and fantasies; he believes that he will find the truth in this whirlwind of lust, exhibitionism, naked excitement and last but not least emotions interplayed between the actresses and him, as well as between the actresses themselves ... But WHAT exactly is the truth? What do women really feel? How do they relate to their own sexuality, other women, men? “Why does sex trigger off such violence and hatred, which, though, are merely a storm in a teacup?”

The film’s greatest advantages are not excellent cast or innovative cinematography, but a sort of higher sexologic value. The film uncovers. The film documents. It questions and initiates debates. It openly reveals one of the most scandalous ‘activities’ of a woman: masturbating. Solo. A deux. A trois. François (each and every man actually) watches and examines, but is disappointed in the end. He will never understand. Men are not destined to know…

All curious cats and amateur sexologists are kindly invited to attend the talk with the director Jean-Claude Brisseau and actress Lise Bellynck to take place on 16 November at 19.00 h in the 2nd Foyer of Cankarjev dom.