Fifty Shades Uncovered

This British documentary cashes in on the Fifty Shades of Grey book-and-film phenomenon that began with the publication of the 2011 bestselling S&M novel. “It's not just a book,” enthuses the narrator, “it's a global sensation!” Considering that it has outsold Harry Potter on Amazon UK, this isn't complete hyperbole. Interviewees include journalists, booksellers, comedians, sex therapists, and even a Playboy Playmate. Notable by their absence: writer E.L. James (née Erika Mitchell), director Sam Taylor-Johnson, and actors Dakota Johnson, who stars as Anastasia Steele, and Jamie Dornan, who plays Christian Grey. Instead of clips from the feature film, which was in production when this documentary was made, director Sonia Anderson incorporates sequences from The Whip and the Body and Lady Chatterley. Anderson traces the book's history as initially Twilight fan fiction, then self-published electronic-book success story, and finally international bestseller. The speakers debate whether Fifty Shades of Grey is erotic fiction, adult romance, or mommy porn, concluding that it is a page-turner despite some questionable writing. Once the novel blew up worldwide, ancillary sales were inevitable, and sex shop owners here cite increased business (one notes that “sales have gone up 626%” since the book's publication). Speakers also take care to differentiate between consensual bondage and domestic abuse, although they find parts of Christian's infamous contract with Anastasia fairly distasteful, including the stipulations that he pick out the latter's clothes and order her food, and that she avert her eyes during their encounters. While there is little here in the way of new information—especially for those who have read the entire trilogy—this documentary serves up some lively discussion and should be a popular addition. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)