Vancouver International Film Festival Coverage ‘08

Title: Secret Museums

Director: Peter Woditsch

Country: Belgium

Length: 77 Minutes

Rating: (G)

Reviewed By: Robert Waldman (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada

Voyeurs and peeping Toms of all factions will be on the edge of their seats when Secret Museums hits this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival.  Sure to be a very hot ticket, this smartly made documentary on erotica lays out the naked truth about man’s classic love affair with affairs of the flesh.

Done as a documentary, this telling expose from Belgium director Peter Woditsch takes us on an interesting journey across Europe.  Over the course of 77 minutes our senses will be primed as this story focuses on museums that “cover” the taboo subject of sexuality.  Whether its ancient manuscripts or classic sculpture Woditsch takes us behind the scenes to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world that apparently have a few dirty little secrets of their own.

Candid interviews with academics, journalists and curators shepherd us into what once were closed door, private depositories of some of the great works of literature and art that cover the subject of human sexuality.  Down deep we go to the dungeons of famed museums in Britain, France and Italy as we become engaged in a quest to examine these once forbidden treasures.

Erotica and sex are on everybody’s mind, let’s not kid ourselves.  Thanks to closet collectors of erotic art we get to see first hand, up close, some of these ancient works of art and also learn about the hysteria of keeping such works private.  Most revealing of all in this documentary that jumps off the screen like a smart whodunit searching for the truth, complete with moody music, are the passion that some of these collectors hold for their prized possessions.

Even such fabled houses of repute as Christies get in on the act as an auction of such things taboo bring in unbelievable prices.  And interviews with a few top European collectors of all things sexual from the past serve to open a new door on a once taboo subject, held close and private by those into such dalliances, be they for investment purposes or curiosity.

North Americans with a newer, more prudish make-up, will find this journey into classic erotic art a real eye-opener, especially concerning the lengths governments to this day try to go in to “protect” the public from seeing such classic literature and art.  Churchgoers also seem to have a lot to answer for as The Vatican is laid bare with its still hidden collection of what may be the biggest sex collection in the world. About the only drawback to Secret Museums is that they don’t show as many examples of the art which would have made it an even more compelling movie to see.

For more information on the Vancouver Film Festival and tickets go to www.viff.org

Show Times: 

Friday, Sept. 26            Noon          Empire Granville Seven

Tuesday Sept. 30         Noon          Empire Granville Seven

Wednesday Oct. 8        9:30 PM     Empire Granville Seven