181. Aviva; movie review

 

 

AVIVA

Cert 18

116 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong sex

Aviva is absolutely jampacked with naked writhing bodies from its opening minutes but should this count as art or simply soft porn?

Let's be honest, watching very fit young people having lots and lots of sex is a pleasant experience but I couldn't help thinking that it was compensation for an unfathomable plot.

Every actor who takes part in Boaz Yakin film shows off their private parts and many get down to fairly explicit rumpy-pumpy.

But I had no idea why we were treated to such a flesh avalanche because the storyline is so opaque.

Sure, I got the bit about the young Parisienne woman (Zina Zinchenko) who falls for a New York man (Tyler Phillips) after a mutual friend prompts them to hook up online.

They finally meet in person when she flies to the Big Apple, fall in love and have a tumultuous relationship.

That bit is easy to digest but it is when their difficulties emerge because of their own warring masculine and feminine sides that bewilderment begins.

And the complexities deepen because Aviva is also represented by a man (Or Schraiber) and Eden is also played by a lass (Bobbi Jene Smith).

So, sometimes we see the characters represented by a woman, sometimes a man or even both. Consequently, the sex is straight, gay or even involves multiples.

Meanwhile, there are myriad narrations and dramatic, even frenzied dance sequences and plenty of other people entering the rumpy-pumpy.

So, is the reason for this sex fest that the film will stay in the memory? Otherwise, it wouldn't stay past a week.

Reasons to watch: Let's be honest - the sex scenes

Reasons to avoid: I really couldn't fathom the dual personalities

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Probably more than in any movie this year

Overall rating: 3.5/10

Did you know? MattressNextDay conducted extensive research in order to uncover the top 10 most raunchy mainstream movies, analysing 28,841 films on IMDb – all of which were assessed on their number of sexual-themed keywords referenced in the plot, as well as the “severity rating” they received in the parental guidance section. Number one was Eyes Wide Shut.

The final word. Boaz Yakin: "One of the things that I tried to do with Aviva that was so exciting and liberating was I tried to open it up and explore." Pop Matters

Share this post