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Drama Cult Classic

Sexual repression, voyeurism, and videotaped confessions upend a Baton Rouge marriage.

SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE

the husband. the wife. her sister. his friend.

1989 · 1h 41m · R · Drama · IMDB TMDB

A sexually repressed woman's husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything.

Quick Answer

What is Sex, Lies, and Videotape about?

Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a 1989 American drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh about a sexually repressed woman whose marriage and family are disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic visitor with a penchant for videotaped interviews.

Programmer's Pick

Steven Soderbergh’s debut turns the camera on suppressed desires and the awkward art of confession—literally. James Spader’s enigmatic Graham introduces a videotaped twist to Southern ennui, making this a key text for anyone interested in the intersection of sexuality and self-revelation.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Ann Bishop Mullany's marriage in Baton Rouge is comfortable but stifling, with therapy sessions revealing her deep dissatisfaction and aversion to her husband's touch. When Graham Dalton—her husband's old college friend, now a drifter—visits and stays with them, his guarded demeanor and connection with Ann spark subtle shifts in the household dynamic. Unbeknownst to Ann, her husband John is entangled in an affair with her more free-spirited sister, Cynthia. The arrival of Graham, whose presence and unusual fetish begin to unsettle the status quo, gradually draws out the secrets and desires simmering beneath the surface of their intertwined relationships. This is a drama of sexual longing, voyeurism, and emotional upheaval set against the quiet humidity of Louisiana.

Details & Specs

Director
Steven Soderbergh
Writer
Steven Soderbergh
Release
1989
Runtime
1h 41m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Drama
Also Known As
Sexo, Mentiras e Vídeo, Sexe, mensonge et vidéos, Sex, psemata kai videotainies, mentiras y video, Sekkusu to uso to bideotêpu, Seks yalanlari, Seks, klamstwa i kasety video, laži i video trake, Shkarim V'Videotape

Why This Matters

Written and directed by Steven Soderbergh at age 26, this independent drama won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and was later added to the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance, influencing the independent film movement of the early 1990s.
— SassyFlix Curator

Why Cult

Videotaped Confessions

Graham's peculiar habit of interviewing women about their sexual fantasies on tape is as unsettling as it is revealing, giving the film its voyeuristic edge.

Sexual Repression Explored

Ann’s discomfort with intimacy and her journey through therapy anchor a nuanced look at desire and denial in American suburbia.

Love Triangle with a Twist

The film’s marital tensions are complicated by an affair with Ann’s sister and Graham’s provocative presence, giving familiar drama a fresh, tangled spin.

Southern Gothic Minimalism

Set in Baton Rouge, the film’s understated style and minimalism bring out the languid, humid tension of Louisiana life.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Sex, Lies, and Videotape? +

Sex, Lies, and Videotape was directed by Steven Soderbergh.

How long is Sex, Lies, and Videotape? +

Sex, Lies, and Videotape has a runtime of 101 minutes.

What genre is Sex, Lies, and Videotape? +

Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a drama.

Why does Graham record women discussing their sexual experiences on videotape? +

Graham records women talking about their sexual fantasies and experiences because he finds gratification in these videotaped confessions, preferring them to traditional intimacy.

Trailers & Clips