In the comedy documentary A Sexplanation, director Alex Liu initiates a frank discussion about the lack of comprehensive sex education in America. Contrary to the usual humorless and awkward tone of “the sex talk,” Liu breaks down questions and misconceptions about sex with a refreshingly irreverent and witty approach.
“I believed that sex outside of marriage would ruin me in the eyes of my family and society,” Liu confesses. “And in America, this idea was reinforced everywhere.” Raised to have little understanding of sex and sexuality, Liu grew up believing his sexual thoughts were wrong and twisted—feelings all the more exacerbated by growing up gay in the 90s.
Now, as a 36-year-old man, Liu is out and accepted by his family. Still, the filmmaker recognizes some gaps in his sex education and can’t quite shake the shame he feels from his sexual fantasies. Curious as to whether he’s alone in this, Liu sets out to explore the state of sex education in America and gathers a host of voices from the U.S. and Canada to shed light on the topic: from the personal experiences of his friends and family to research from sex educators and therapists to the convictions of politicians and priests.
Liu’s compilation of interviews doesn’t so much function as corrective sex education as it does to direct attention to a problem within America’s school, family, and religious systems. That is, all three have hampered comprehensive sex education in some way. With a forgiving tone, Liu’s comedy documentary traces how his generation has failed back to how these systems failed his parents and his grandparents before them.
Noting how generations share misconceptions—about menstruation, birth control, sex organs, sexual orientation, fantasies, masturbation, and pornography—A Sexplanation ties this connection back to a culture of shame. That culture frames Liu's own relatable experiences. His personal journey is the most compelling part of the documentary, as he develops from nervously laughing at stating the word “erection” in front of his parents to embracing vulnerability and stepping inside an MRI machine in order to “donate an orgasm to science.”
As Liu unpacks and lets go of his own shame, the comedy documentary compassionately invites viewers to do the same. Although not dealing with wholly original information regarding sex education in America, A Sexplanation puts a fresh, comedic, and surprisingly heartwarming spin on the taboo subject. Highly recommended.
What public library shelves would A Sexplanation be on?
Public libraries should purchase A Sexplanation for health/wellness and documentary shelves.
What can this comedy documentary be used as a resource for?
A Sexplanation is a great introductory resource for health/wellness and sex education classes. Liu’s light, humorous tone, and his focus on shedding shame make the documentary an excellent ice breaker for the subject.
Does this film have Public Performance Rights available?
Yes! The digital file of A Sexplanation is $299 with public performance rights from Passion River Films. The informative documentary would make an excellent screening for sex education seminars and classes.