Bliss

Bliss is a theraputic film that will bring every emotion to the forefront. I got angry, I laughed, I cried, I analized. You must have a keen eye and ear for metaphors and other symbolisms. Yet, this movie is straight forward and revealing of the honest truth of what sex is all about in a marriage when one partner has been sexually abused. A must see for any married couple whether there is sexual abuse involved or not.

Like other reviewers I also picked out this video because of my respect for Siskel & Ebert's good taste. It turned out to be one of the best videos I have ever watched. The acting is good and the story flows well. Most of all the movie works and is very meaningful.

Some people watch movies to be entertained. I watch movies not only to be entertained but also to connect with ideas. This movie does it for me. The therapeutic ideas discussed comes from Eastern philosophy and is pretty authentic. The title refers to spiritual bliss and not sexual bliss. The social problem that's at the heart of the theme is very meaningful. There has been and there still is a lot of sexual abuse of children in our society.

This movie is not a flick and has nothing to do with gratuitous sex. It is about the love that one person can have for another and how partners can heal one another. It you initially laugh at this concept I suggest you do a bit of research into Jungian psychology and Vedic philosophy. Popular tastes in movies can be very superficial - this movie is not superficial. While it is not an epic it is a very well-executed treatise on an important topic that needs to be brought to light. I give it all 5 stars.

Many of the reviews posted here and elsewhere on the 'net talk about the wonderful cinematography and the open way in which sex and abuse are explored in "Bliss". There are some interesting coincidences that have been completely missed simply because the movie deals so openly with sex - which covers all the religious implications. First, our main characters are Joseph and "Maria" - isn't there another famous couple named Joseph and Mary? Our hero Joseph is a construction manager...a modern day carpenter. Both Joseph and Maria go to see a man named Balthazar...who, together with Melchior and Casper in the bible, make up the three wise men.
It's a fascinating juxtaposition - the wise man, Balthazar, teaches Joseph, presumably christian, tantric sex, which comes from the Hindu/Indian religious traditions.
I suspect that Young intended for his audience to see the sexual healing process that a young married couple has to go through. Indeed, that's what most people *will* see. Fewer people will think about the comments he makes on the relationship between Joseph and Mary/Maria. How would a couple like Joseph and Mary be treated in today's society?
Perhaps another message in this film is that bliss is difficult to achieve within the confines of christianity. Young handles this issue so well that you won't even realize that it's happened until it's all over.