RETRO-ACTIVE: THE BEST FROM THE CINEMA RETRO ARCHIVES
By Lee Pfeiffer
One of a seemingly endless number of films that tried to capitalize on the success of the 1974 "art house" softcore porn flick Emmanuelle, the 1983 Canadian movie Joy has been released to DVD by Severin Films. Emmanuelle was especially influential because it broke barriers by playing in neighborhood theaters where couples could view the film in a respectable environment and not be bothered by the raincoats-on-the-lap crowd. Joy, directed by Serge Bergon, follows in the tradition by stressing a story of romance over overt sexual acts. The movie benefits from its considerable budget and boasts some outstanding cinematography in such far-flung locations as Mexico, Paris, Montreal and New York City. It's like a National Geographic special with orgasms. Claudia Udy, a stunning Canadian actress, is more than competent as the title character, a free-spirited model who is searching for true love amidst the hectic pace of her thriving career. She seems to be attracted to suave, older men and believes she's found true love in Marc (Gerard Antoine Huart). However, the romance is on-and-off as she discovers he insists upon carrying on a simultaneous relationship with another woman (He is French, after all...) Joy also experiments with other men before returning to Marc, who expands her sexual freedoms by exposing her to group sex in a bizarre sequence that seems like an inspiration for Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.
The French language film will seem pretty tame to today's audiences, but in an era where hardcore sex movies are a keyboard touch away, there's something rather appealing about the quaint aspects of Joy. The sex scenes are not overly abundant, and when they are depicted, it's with style and genuine eroticism. The movie was clearly made from a female point-of-view in order to entice women viewers. That would still seem to be the core audience for the movie, as even the more graphic sequences never cross the line and become offensive. It must be said that there is a certain extra appreciation in for an era in which actresses did not feel compelled to purchase bionic bodies and have virtual transfusions of silicone and Botox. Ms. Udy is a natural beauty, to be sure, and some of her more erotic scenes play like out-takes from a Playboy shoot. The DVD contains a recent interview with Udy, who comes across as a highly intelligent and articulate woman. Although she gave up her acting career to raise a family, she's refreshingly unapologetic about her on-screen escapades as Joy. Another impressive release from the good folks at Severin Films.
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