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I won free passes from NOW Magazine to see Lie With Me (Clément Virgo) a few weeks ago. Virgo’s wife, Tamara Berger, wrote the novel, and the two of them adapted it for film. I’d heard about this film because it was produced and filmed in Toronto, and was profiled in the programming for this past summer’s Toronto International Film Festival. Another reason I’d heard of it was because of the allegedly explicit sexuality portrayed on-screen.

This is the story of Leila (Lauren Lee Smith), an attractive young woman who indulges in the passionate, physical aspects of sex but avoids any kind of emotional intimacy. She keeps interactions at the transactional level, be they with lovers, friends or even her parents, who are suddenly in the process of splitting up. Aside from her compulsive sexual encounters with strangers and her occasional visits with friends and family, Leila keeps to herself. When alone, she becomes restless and seems to be afraid of what might happen to her without the stimulation that keeps her feeling “alive”.

Then she meets David (Eric Balfour). He is in a relationship with another girl, but their attraction to each other is so strong that they inevitably begin a (primarily sexual) relationship. What is different this time, however, is that Leila sees in David somebody who is sensitive and emotionally capable, and she is attracted to it. She begins to lower her guard and wrestles with feeling vulnerable; rather, with feeling at all.

Virgo presents an extraordinary visual experience with this film. The handheld camera work is very intimate, as are the colour tones. I didn’t find the scenes of sexuality to be inappropriately graphic; less explicit scenes could have betrayed the characters’ authenticities. The visuals were at once lush and discomforting, which may have been to communicate the Leila’s internal conflicts. I think the title is great, too - aside from its obvious sexual connotations, it also reveals one of Leila’s damaged desires: to have a relationship with somebody that is based upon avoiding truth.

I felt like I was really getting to know these characters. Although I cannot relate to Leila’s issues, per se, I did understand her defense mechanisms and irrational coping methods. Smith played her character splendidly and left nothing to the imagination - this role must have been quite demanding on her.

Many people have commented on Lie With Me’s brash sexuality and lack of plot. I found this film to be stunningly shot and a brilliant character piece. With a character who is real that you can relate to even with totally different circumstances, who needs a story?

With the ticket appropriately numbered “sixty-nine”, I won a draw for The Worst Case Scenario’s Guide To Sex and Dating. The screening was at Varsity Cinema and was introduced by the director.