The Workshop

Feeling restless and unsatisfied, British photographer Jamie Morgan journeys to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend 72-year-old Paul Lowe's “radical self-help workshop,” a 10-day sex-oriented retreat. Morgan interviews other attendees and openly films group therapy sessions and even an orgy, which begs the obvious question of whether the participants are simply indifferent, narcissistic, or genuinely hopeful that viewers will learn something from their journey of self-discovery (interestingly, several are British citizens or expatriates, like Morgan and Lowe). Not only do the interviewees confess their innermost thoughts on camera, they're also naked much of the time, which is part of Lowe's process, since it renders everyone equal—at least in the strictly materialistic sense. In short order, the bashful become downright exhibitionistic, rendering the documentary quasi-pornographic (including the aforementioned orgy scenes), although nudity isn't always a prelude to sexual activity. Lowe also believes that “monogamy is not natural,” and a few of the married (or otherwise attached) participants put that assertion to the test here, including the guru's son-in-law. Narcissistic or not, the breakthroughs experienced by some of the participants seem real enough, although Morgan neglects to disclose how much individuals paid for the privilege. Recommended for academic human sexuality studies, this is also a strong optional purchase for more adventurous public library collections. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)