Kamikaze Hearts

I've been aware of this for quite a while (perhaps since its launch?) and that it had a "landmark" reputation. As such, I'm glad I've now seen it, although I doubt I'll be rewatching it, or recommending it to others. At base, it's an interesting perspective on the industry and these characters in particular, but I suspect most people's reactions will be dominated by the feelings towards the latter. Personally, I was initially drawn to Tigr and somewhat daunted by Mitch, but found my reactions heading in correspondingly opposite directions as the film progressed. The "producer" however remained an unremitting nasty sleazebag throughout, and thus a difficult presence.... noting that he was a * director "in real life" I did wonder whether this was somewhat realistic, or whether he was playing up this angle for the camera, as most of the rest of the crews came across as collaborative and supportive. Worth a look, but not really recommended.

Tough and cynical veteran Mitch (Sharon Mitchell, positively mesmerizing) and her naive, yet eager partner Tigr (a very sweet, appealing, and vulnerable portrayal by Tigr) are a couple of * actresses involved in an intense lesbian relationship. Their already strained relationship reaches the breaking point as substance abuse and the pressure of working in the sex industry begins to take a heavy toll on both women. Director/co-writer Juliet Bashore offers a fascinating and illuminating document of the positive and negative aspects of the 1980's adult cinema scene, with plenty of priceless footage of the chaotic shooting of a hardcore feature as personalities clash and egos run out of control. Moreover, this movie blurs the fine line between fact and fiction to the point where it's impossible to distinguish one from the other. Better still, Bashore accomplishes the remarkable feat of seeing the wounded humanity in people who work in a profession that's commonly perceived as seamy, thankless, and degrading. Porn actor Jon Martin proves to be extremely likable as himself, Jerry Abrams amuses as sleazy hustler producer Gerald Greystone, and Robert McKenna impresses as the supremely cool Bobby Mac. As for Mitchell, she's quite a striking charismatic figure who openly admits that she's always performing whether the camera is on or off; this in turn makes her occasionally very repellent in her narcissism and utterly compelling because of her funky aloof persona and distinctive androgynous look. David Golia's rough hand-held cinematography puts the viewer right in the thick of everything. The final scene is simply devastating. Done in a raw, riveting, and realistic verite documentary style, this film possesses a truly bracing sense of you-are-there intimacy and poignancy.

Tough and cynical veteran Mitch (Sharon Mitchell, positively mesmerizing) and her naive, yet eager partner Tigr (a very sweet, appealing, and vulnerable portrayal by Tigr) are a couple of * actresses involved in an intense lesbian relationship. Their already strained relationship reaches the breaking point as substance abuse and the pressure of working in the sex industry begins to take a heavy toll on both women. Director/co-writer Juliet Bashore offers a fascinating and illuminating document of the positive and negative aspects of the 1980's adult cinema scene, with plenty of priceless footage of the chaotic shooting of a hardcore feature as personalities clash and egos run out of control. Moreover, this movie blurs the fine line between fact and fiction to the point where it's impossible to distinguish one from the other. Better still, Bashore accomplishes the remarkable feat of seeing the wounded humanity in people who work in a profession that's commonly perceived as seamy, thankless, and degrading. Porn actor Jon Martin proves to be extremely likable as himself, Jerry Abrams amuses as sleazy hustler producer Gerald Greystone, and Robert McKenna impresses as the supremely cool Bobby Mac. As for Mitchell, she's quite a striking charismatic figure who openly admits that she's always performing whether the camera is on or off; this in turn makes her occasionally very repellent in her narcissism and utterly compelling because of her funky aloof persona and distinctive androgynous look. David Golia's rough hand-held cinematography puts the viewer right in the thick of everything. The final scene is simply devastating. Done in a raw, riveting, and realistic verite documentary style, this film possesses a truly bracing sense of you-are-there intimacy and poignancy.