Preaching to the Perverted

Urban's ability to structure objective perspectives around emotionally and socially sensitive contexts takes us to the S&M club scene of London. Cleverly using black humour to disguise the join between the perspective and the context, it takes the completion of the movie to realise that the only view its interwoven statements have left us with is to question our own need to have an opinion. The verbal scaffolding doesn't allow us to avoid the process as it sympathetically leads us into a world of fantasy to affirm how it mirrors the social dynamics of hum drum reality - but with a lot more honesty and safety controls. Tanya is strong. Gosh, with so many people depending on her, it's enough to force a girl to dominate. Her alluring detachment is the only way to keep the world ticking for everybody who needs to be told what to do. The staid enable the illicit; and how will people feel good about themselves without being able to judge others? Well, it's a lonely job but somebody's got to do it – although you have to wonder who's controlling who (soundfamiliar?). And what do you do when the fantasy becomes the reality?

The stylish, dated cinematography really suits the necessary pace of this cult movie, but a remake could be extremely interesting. Jo Parker

I didn't have huge expectations of this movie, and thus was pleasantly surprised. It is basically a romantic comedy dressed up in outrageous clothing!

Guinevere Turner from Go Fish is the super cool star, and spends most of the film strutting around in a selection of stunning fetish outfits. It is interesting to get an honest insight into the Fetish world, but thankfully the details are not too gory.

It was also good to hear a soundtrack featuring dance music that you would actually hear in London/English clubs.

The film has some good deadpan humour, and has quite a feel-good atmosphere. Definitely worth a look.

Very, very seldom does a film come along and make me want to watch it over and over. This is one such case. Sure it has some corny story elements. For example, the ending was a little corny... a little too happy and perfect. And yes, the government would never send somebody to infiltrate subversive groups like this. But the entire film is laced with tongue in cheek satire so let's just sit back and enjoy the story can't we? From a very visual person such as myself, the costumes, makeup and set design are outstanding! True, most of the scenes are probably a little over the top compared to the real BDSM scene, but once again, this is film is not meant to be taken literally. Even the music is wonderfully chosen to reflect each scene. These technical and creative merits alone deserve an A+. Yes, Guinevere Turner is exceptionally beautiful and sexy in this film, but Sue Johnston deserves a WOW for flat out courage for shaving her head and still looking this gorgeous. This film has deservedly won a place on my list of top 10 films of all time. From a visual standpoint it's easily in the top 5, right next to The Cell, Moulin Rouge, and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Excellent movie. made even better (for me) by recognising people in it from around London. It was shot in what (used to be at the time) was my local nightclub - heaven - and featured dancers such as Enzo, and Heavens' resident drag queen Kimberley.

Great sound track, fine storyline, very sexy lead characters, and a cheeky sense of humour. Look out for a pink prop in every single scene.

In Germany there was much fuss about this film, as we´ve heard much about it, but it was hard to obtain at first. Finally, someone managed, and meanwhile I´ve seen the film in its English original and in a translated version. I loved it at first sight! Tanya makes a dream of a domina, and Peter´s so sweet... I presume, you enjoy it more when you´re a member of the fetish/sm-community, but the gags - I mean jokes ;) - should be intelligible by everyone, I think. Of course you need a strong sense of humour, and you shouldn´t feel offended by people who feel good kneeling in a cage, being beaten and stuff like this. It´s in no way a true insight of the fetish-scene - it´s too much dreams coming true ;) - but it´s fun for the kinks and open-minded vanillas, too. And that´s more to say of than of any other film I know. Kaya