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Comedy Cult Classic

Australian sex comedy meets public health lecture in a mockumentary about the spread of STDs.

THE LOVE EPIDEMIC

Nobody is immune!!

1975 · 1h 23m · NR · Comedy / Documentary · IMDB TMDB

A series of risque sketches highlighting the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

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Quick Answer

What is The Love Epidemic about?

The Love Epidemic is a 1975 Australian comedy-documentary directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith about venereal disease education, combining factual segments with humorous skits to examine the spread and seriousness of sexually transmitted diseases.

Programmer's Pick

Only in the Australian 1970s could a film about STDs double as a comedy and a public health PSA. Brian Trenchard-Smith’s mock-doc approach keeps things both cheeky and informative, with skits that are as educational as they are risqué.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

The Love Epidemic is a unique blend of comedy and documentary from 1970s Australia, focusing on the realities of venereal disease before the AIDS era. The film balances earnest educational content with a series of irreverent sketches and mockumentary-style reenactments, highlighting how STDs can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or orientation. Through its mix of clinical facts and satirical scenarios, it addresses the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, often lampooning social taboos and misconceptions along the way. Audiences can expect a candid, sometimes cheeky approach to public health messaging, characteristic of the period’s Ozploitation cinema.

Details & Specs

Director
Brian Trenchard-Smith
Writers
Brian Trenchard-Smith, Michael Laurence
Release
1975
Runtime
1h 23m
Country
Australia
Language
English
Genres
Comedy, Documentary
Also Known As
The Epidemic, Original title: The Love Epidemic

Why This Matters

This semi-documentary blends clinical sex education with comedic sketches, reflecting 1970s Australian efforts to address venereal disease onscreen. Its low-budget 16mm production and subsequent blow-up to 35mm highlight resourceful filmmaking aimed at theatrical audiences.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith Writers: Brian Trenchard-Smith +1 more
ML Michael Laurence Rosalind Speirs Rosalind Speirs Peter Reynolds Peter Reynolds Grant Page Grant Page TL Tim Lynch John Ewart John Ewart

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Why Cult

Ozploitation Oddity

This film is a standout example of Australian exploitation cinema tackling taboo subjects with irreverence and wit.

Educational Sketch Comedy

Humorous skits and reenactments transform public health warnings into engaging, sometimes outrageous, comedy.

Pre-AIDS Era Health Focus

The film offers a rare look at attitudes and medical understanding of STDs before the AIDS crisis reshaped public discourse.

Mockumentary Style

Blending documentary facts with satirical sketches, the film uses a mockumentary format to tackle serious topics with a wink.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

When was The Love Epidemic released? +

The Love Epidemic was released in 1975.

Who directed The Love Epidemic? +

Brian Trenchard-Smith directed The Love Epidemic.

How long is The Love Epidemic? +

The Love Epidemic has a runtime of 83 minutes.

What genre is The Love Epidemic? +

The film is a comedy and documentary.

Where can I watch The Love Epidemic? +

The Love Epidemic is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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