KinoTopia 057 - How to Have Sex (Molly Manning Walker, 2023)
One of Naarms's preeminent girlies takes on HOW TO HAVE SEX
How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker
DCP Courtesy: AHI Films
Classification: MA15+
Playing in most good arthouse cinemas in Melbourne.
Words by Madeleine Harris
Fifteen minutes into How to have Sex I thought to myself, have I got this film wrong? All I’ve seen so far was a seemingly enjoyable beach party trip for three young girls, backed up by a selection of classics seemingly from one of those ‘Top 100 Club Hits’ compilation cds. I could relate to their experience in my younger years, but found myself feeling a lot older (I’m middle-upper twenties) and very separated from the world of the sixteen year old friendship trio, Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce), Skye (Lara Peak) and Em (Enva Lewis). But oh my god, by the end of the film I was sobbing - Molly Manning Walker’s feature debut and festival favourite hit me for six, I was floored.
Believe me, I am no expert on all things reel, I am proudly a woman in STEM, and in my science world, we refer to a member of the general public as a “lay” person. By my industry’s rigorous standards, I would have consider myself a lay person in regard to film. So when I was asked to write this review I was completely shocked. Why would the usually ruthless editors of a trendy Naarm based film newsletter ask me, a budding scientist, to review the film? But after watching this film, I realised that I didn’t need to be an expert on all things kino to explain why I thought this film was worth the watch, it was easy to describe. To me, How to Have Sex encapsulates the experience of girlhood, and the chilling, darker side of growing up and sexual experiences which unravel as the plot progresses.
We start the film with the gals arriving in the Greek Island of Crete from the UK, for what I’d describe as a “clubbing holiday” not dissimilar to the Australian schoolies experience on the Gold Coast or Lorne (for Melbourne based Year 12 graduates on a tighter budget). As the film progresses, the girls; Tara, Skye and Em become friendly with their neighbouring holiday villa, fellow party goers; Badger, Paddy and Paige. Skye is quick to warn the others that their neighbours cannot find out the age of the girls as they expect their neighbours to be around nineteen to twenty one compared to their sixteen years of age. Of the trio, Skye is the typical party girl and seemingly very sexually experienced. Em is studious and plans to study veterinary science once returning from the holiday. Tara fits somewhere in between, she’s a party girl but is as constantly reminded by Skye, is still a “virgin”. In their social currency, this appears to be an important marker in becoming an adult.
The girls are very young, and there’s a charm to the young women that is very endearing, their lives appear to be so carefree at the beginning of their trip. What unfolds turns out to be the opposite of this for Tara. Mia McKenna-Bruce won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and if her performance as Tara is anything to go by, it was completely deserved. McKenna-Bruce’s portrayal of Tara is brilliant, she captures the character’s youthfulness and naivety of the sixteen year old and skilfully portrays the range of emotions and devastating denial of unfolding events.
After the credits rolled I went straight to Letterboxd to see how my thoughts compared to others on the platform. It was really interesting yet unsurprising to see the divide between women and men in the reviews. Women rated it very highly and spoke about the importance of showing this type of story onscreen, whereas the reviews on men were mixed. How to Have Sex evoked an almost physical reaction for me, I felt a tightness in my chest as the film progressed. I could recognise aspects of Tara in myself and my friends, and that’s what made it such a hard watch by the end, I expect that many others will have the same response. The film aptly described the experiences of young women who have been sexually assaulted and coerced into experiences they did not want. I believe the film provides an important starting point for conversational grounds around consent and sexual assault. It does not go all the way to outrightly explain why the interactions in the film are “bad”, however, I don’t think that’s the point, it leaves the viewer in the grey area.
The film explores the complexities of consent and the issues of being a bystander. In a later scene with Tara and Badger, Badger discussed his friendship with Paddy and his acknowledgement of his friend’s unsavoury behaviour. Badger and Paddy’s relationship quintessentially captures how bad behaviour in men is allowed to slide when their friends don’t question it. If the film was a rom-com, Badger would have been Tara’s knight in shining armour, rescuing her from her situation but instead portrays how this type of behaviour happens all too often in real life. Molly Manning Walker’s film is not that. In my opinion, if films like this were shown in high school sex education classes, maybe this would go a way to reducing the amount of Paddy’s and Badger’s in society.
WEEKLY FILM LISTINGS
March 14 - March 20
Matinees
Variety
Bette Gordon, 1983
Screening Fri, Sat, Sun
Best of 2023
Past Lives
Celine Song, 2023
Screening Sat 16 Mar
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Laura Poitras, 2022
Screening Fri 15 March
Top Screen
Screening Friday 15 March and Wednesday 20 March
THE PLACES WE CALL HOME
Films by Simon Liu, Sky Hopinka, Lark Lyra Hill, Alee Peoples, Mike Stoltz and Ross Meckfesse
Tue 19 March @ 8pm at the Brunswick Green
ASTOR CINEMA
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
+
Vision Quest
Harold Becker, 1985
Screening Friday
Ghostbusters - 40th Anniversary
Ivan Reitman, 1984
Screening Sat and Sun
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
+
The Breakfast Club
John Hughes, 1985
Screening Sat
May December
Todd Haynes, 2023
Screening Sunday
The Wild Bunch
Sam Peckinpah, 1969
+
Deliverance
John Boorman, 1972
Screening Monday
Miami Vice
Michael Mann, 2006
Screening Wednesday
BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)
Uncertain whether it will return (you’ll be the first to hear)
Yolo
Jia Ling, 2024
Article 20
Zhang Yimou, 2024
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
Mitsuo Fukuda, 2024
Screening Daily
The Moon Thieves
Kim-Wai Yuen, 2024
Pegasus II
Han Han, 2024
CINÉ-CLUB (Carlton)
No screening this week
Dalmas
Bert Deling, 1973
+
Ubu Films Night
Screening Sunday 17 March @ 7:45pm
Palestinian Film Festival 2024.
Tix and program available here
Previewing
Wicked Little Letters
Thea Sharrock, 2023
Screening tonight 7pm
Perfect Days
Wim Wenders, 2023
Screening Wed
In season
You’ll Never Find Me
Josiah Allen & Indianna Bell, 2024
Screening Daily
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Fri
How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker, 2023
Screening Daily
The Great Escaper
Oliver Parker, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Subtraction
Mani Haghighi, 2022
Screening Daily
Club Zero
Jessica Hauser, 2023
Screening Daily
Four Daughters
Kaouther Ben Hania, 2023
Screening Daily
Drive Away Dolls
Ethan Coen, 2024
Screening Daily
The Rooster
Mark Leonard Winter, 2023
Screening Daily
The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer, 2023
Screening Daily
Fallen Leaves
Aki Kaurismäki, 2023
Screening Daily
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Robert Connolly, 2023
Screening Daily
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2023
Screening Daily
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Ariane Louis-Seize, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune Part I
Denis Villeneuve, 2021
Screening daily
May December
Todd Haynes, 2023
Screening Daily
Riceboy Sleeps
Anthony Shim, 2024
Screening Daily
The Colour Purple
Blitz Bazawule, 2023
Screening Daily
Anatomy of a Fall
Justine Triet, 2023
Screening Daily
Priscilla
Sofia Coppola, 2023
Screening Daily
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
Screening Daily
All of Us Strangers
Andrew Haigh, 2023
Screening Daily
Ferrari
Michael Mann, 2023
Screening Daily
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
Screening Daily
Anatomy of a Fall
Justine Triet, 2023
Screening Daily
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Daily
Coup de Chance
Woody Allen, 2023
Screening Daily
One Life
James Hawes, 2023
Screening Daily
Maestro
Bradley Cooper, 2023
Limited Screenings
The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki, 2023
Screening Daily
Napoleon
Ridley Scott, 2023
Limited
Saltburn
Emerald Fennell, 2023
Limited
Past Lives
Celine Song, 2023
Limited
Barbie
Greta Gerwig, 2023
Limited
Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan, 2023
Limited
DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellania
Marungka tjalatjunu (Dipped in black)
Derik Lynch & Matthew Thorne, 2023
+
GAIB
Matthew Thorne, 2019
Screening Wednesday 20 March, 8pm
FOMO CINEMAS BRUNSWICK EAST
The Great Escaper
Oliver Parker, 2023
Screening Daily
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Fri
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Dune: Part 1
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2023
Screening Daily
Argylle
Matthew Vaughn, 2024
Screening Daily
The Colour Purple
Blitz Bazawule, 2023
Screening Daily
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Robert Connolly, 2023
Screening Daily
Priscilla
Sofia Coppola, 2023
Screening Daily
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
Screening Daily
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
Screening Daily
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Daily
The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki, 2023
Screening Daily
Closed for the semester
GAY24 (Bar Flippy’s)
No screening this week
HITLIST (9 Gertrude St, Fitzroy)
No screening this week
Europa!Europa! Film Festival tix on sale and program available here
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Fri
The Great Escaper
Oliver Parker, 2023
Screening Daily
How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Subtraction
Mani Haghighi, 2022
Screening Daily
Club Zero
Jessica Hauser, 2023
Screening Daily
Four Daughters
Kaouther Ben Hania, 2023
Screening Daily
Drive Away Dolls
Ethan Coen, 2024
Screening Daily
The Rooster
Mark Leonard Winter, 2023
Screening Daily
The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer, 2023
Screening Daily
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Ariane Louis-Seize, 2023
Screening Daily
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2023
Screening Daily
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Robert Connolly, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune Part I
Denis Villeneuve, 2021
Screening daily
May December
Todd Haynes, 2023
Screening Daily
Riceboy Sleeps
Anthony Shim, 2024
Screening Daily
Argylle
Matthew Vaughn, 2024
Screening Daily
Anatomy of a Fall
Justine Triet, 2023
Screening Daily
The Colour Purple
Blitz Bazawule, 2023
Screening Daily
Priscilla
Sofia Coppola, 2023
Screening Daily
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
Screening Daily
All of Us Strangers
Andrew Haigh, 2023
Screening Daily
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
Screening Daily
Mean Girls
Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr., 2024
Screening Daily
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Daily
Anyone but You
Will Gluck, 2023
Screening Daily
The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki, 2023
Screening Daily
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese, 2023
Limited Screenings
OVA CLUB
No screening this week
THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)
In a Lonely Place
Nicholas Ray, 1950
+
The Bad and the Beautiful
Vincent Minnelli, 1952
Screening Wed 20 March
TOP OF THE HEAP (Tramway Hotel)
No screening this week
MELBOURNE HORROR FILM SOCIETY @ LONG PLAY (North Fitzroy)
No screening this week
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS
No screening this week
PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON / COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / MOONEE PONDS / WESTGARTH
French Film Festival Starts March 6
Program Here
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Daily
How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker, 2023
Screening Daily
The Great Escaper
Oliver Parker, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Subtraction
Mani Haghighi, 2022
Screening Daily
Club Zero
Jessica Hauser, 2023
Screening Daily
Four Daughters
Kaouther Ben Hania, 2023
Screening Daily
Drive Away Dolls
Ethan Coen, 2024
Screening Daily
The Rooster
Mark Leonard Winter, 2023
Screening Daily
The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer, 2023
Screening Daily
Fallen Leaves
Aki Kaurismäki, 2023
Screening Daily
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2024
Screening from Valentine’s Day
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Robert Connolly, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune Part I
Denis Villeneuve, 2021
Screening daily
May December
Todd Haynes, 2023
Screening Daily
Riceboy Sleeps
Anthony Shim, 2024
Screening Daily
Argylle
Matthew Vaughn, 2024
Screening Daily
Anatomy of a Fall
Justine Triet, 2023
Screening Daily
Priscilla
Sofia Coppola, 2023
Screening Daily
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
Screening Daily
All of Us Strangers
Andrew Haigh, 2023
Screening Daily
Ferrari
Michael Mann, 2023
Screening Daily
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
Screening Daily
Dream Scenario
Kristoffer Borgli, 2023
Screening Daily
Next Goal Wins
Taika Waititi, 2023
Screening Daily
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Daily
One Life
James Hawes, 2023
Screening Daily
The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki, 2023
Screening Daily
No screening this week
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Daily
How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker, 2023
Screening Daily
The Great Escaper
Oliver Parker, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Daily
Drive Away Dolls
Ethan Coen, 2024
Screening Daily
The Rooster
Mark Leonard Winter, 2023
Screening Daily
The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer, 2023
Screening Daily
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Robert Connolly, 2023
Screening Daily
Dune Part I
Denis Villeneuve, 2021
Screening daily
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2024
Screening Daily
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Ariane Louis-Seize, 2023
Screening Daily
May December
Todd Haynes, 2023
Screening Daily
Riceboy Sleeps
Anthony Shim, 2024
Screening Daily
Argylle
Matthew Vaughn, 2024
Screening Daily
Anatomy of a Fall
Justine Triet, 2023
Screening Daily
The Colour Purple
Blitz Bazawule, 2023
Screening Daily
Priscilla
Sofia Coppola, 2023
Screening Daily
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, 2023
Screening Daily
All of Us Strangers
Andrew Haigh, 2023
Screening Daily
Ferrari
Michael Mann, 2023
Screening Daily
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne, 2023
Screening Daily
Mean Girls
Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr., 2024
Screening Daily
Dream Scenario
Kristoffer Borgli, 2023
Screening Daily
Next Goal Wins
Taika Waititi, 2023
Screening Daily
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Daily
One Life
James Hawes, 2023
Screening Daily
Anyone But You
Will Gluck, 2023
Screening Daily
Two Tickets to Greece
Marc Fitoussi, 2022
Screening Daily
Wonka
Paul Knight, 2023
Screening Daily
The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki, 2023
Screening Daily
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
Screening Daily
The Trust Fall: Julian Assange
Kym Staton, 2023
Screening Monday
Drive Away Dolls
Ethan Coen, 2024
Screening Thu, Sat and Wed
The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer, 2023
Screening Sun + Wed
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villeneuve, 2024
Screening Fri + Sat
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023
Screening Wednesday
UNKNOWN PLEASURES (Bill Mousoulis + Chris Luscri + Digby Houghton)
No screening this week