Review of The Sessions (2012) by Christopher B — 31 May 2016

A poignant optimistic tale of unusual tenderness, based on the life and journalism of the late poet Mark O'Brien and his autobiographical 1990 article 'On Seeing a Sex Surrogate', writer /director Ben Lewin's The Sessions is eloquently balanced between profoundly moving and ruefully funny.

Sex, religion, poetry and the disabled may be the guiding themes, but it is emotional vulnerability that makes it unforgettable. Tackling a subject that calls for tact and discretion, we explore the taboos of sex and the guilt associated in a man singularly unique situation through compelling characters and wonderful acting to become genuinely engaged and touched by humanity.

Paralyzed and confined to an iron lung after contracting polio as a child, 38 year old Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) is not a victim to his condition. Graduating school and gaining independent employment as a writer and poet, Mark and his wonderfully active mind have achieved so much including a wonderfully wicked sense of humor of which he uses to shock his ever present carers and the patient Father Brendan (William H. Macy) .

When asked to write an article about the subject sex and the disabled, Marks interest turns from discussions with similarly inflicted people to his own sexual experience and lack thereof. Desperately horny and embarrassed by his body's reactions to physical contact, Mark concludes he needs to lose his virginity before he dies.

After talking it over morally with the good father and getting a contact from his therapist, Mark contacts professional sexual surrogate, Cheryl Cohen-Greene (Helen Hunt) who address not only his key issue of physical intimacy but his underlying issues of self-worth.

There are clear rules of their engagement; to aid in Mark's body awareness and achieve intercourse within a maximum of 6 sessions at which time they must say goodbye, however it is Marks request for Cheryl to gain gratification during their 4th session that gives the arrangement a tender emotional element.

What transpires behind the closed doors will not only change Mark, but those around him in equal measure.

Inhabiting every aspect of O'Brien's character, physicality and emotional state, Hawkes portrayal is virtuoso. Hunt is supremely comfortable in her own skin and in its exposure, brave, honest and graceful; the 49-year-old is nothing short of a revelation. Their therapeutic sessions are invigoratingly candid and explicit without every approaching exploitative territory.

Macy is skillfully measured for relief whilst having the deportment to absolve his subjects carnal urges, and O'Brien's three other significant female influences, Annika Marks as volunteer Amanda (the spark of his carnal awakening), Moon Bloodgood as his carer Vera (who supports his endevour), and Robin Weigert as his last love Susan (the one who embraces his sexuality) are wonderful. Simply astonishing and unreserved performances all round.

The verdict: Some scenes were overly long while some elements needed more fleshing out, the bittersweet melancholy emanating from its complex ingredients makes this a poetically profound story of the yearning for human connection.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 09/11/2012.