Due to the far-reaching shutdowns, the traditional porn industry in the USA has come to a standstill. For many of the actors, solo scenes and shooting with their own partners are one of the few remaining alternatives to earn a living. The successful indie icon Erika Lust has made a virtue of necessity and without further ado shot the documentary »Sex and Love in the Time of Quarantine«. The result was an amazingly sensual and lively all-round view of the current situation.
Barcelona-based porn producer Erika Lust has been at the forefront of the alternative porn scene, which is also called »indie« in reference to alternative pop and film culture. With an authentic view and openness to the many facets of contemporary life, she produces some of the most successful porn movies in the movement. Now she delivers a pornographic documentary about life, love, sex and pornography in times of the pandemic.
In order not to violate the quarantine and lockdown regulations, Lust let the participants and protagonists of her documentary film themselves and put everything together in the cut to create her movie. The actors thus shoot themselves or each other in their flats and houses and show how they are intimate with each other and live out their sexuality during the corona crisis.
The trailer starts promisingly: »Have you ever wondered how other people are living their sex lives in confinement? We reached out to 6 people in 4 different cities and challenged them to a game. This is the result…«
Erika Lust says about her new film: »I want to give this film to everyone locked in their homes around the world, to watch and to be inspired by how others are spending their quarantine.« And by »give«, the accomplished producer is serious. Since April 16th, the movie can be watched for free, albeit without sex scenes. From April 23rd, subscribers to Lust’s xConfessions website can enjoy the uncensored film.
Among those portrayed are the actors King Noire and Jet Setting Jasmine, who show themselves in their home in Florida. Another couple calls themselves My Sweet Apple and comes from Barcelona. Also featured is Kenneth Play in solo isolation in his New York apartment while watching porn. The award-winning porn actress Casey Calvert plays Wheel of Fortune with herself in Los Angeles, and chance determines which sextoy she will use.
In addition to curiosity and the obviously pressing subject matter, Erika Lust also owes the inspiration for her Corona film to her poetic world view. She puts it like this: »I imagine an invisible piece of string connecting us all. During sleepless nights I run through different scenes in my head, tricking my self into a sex roulette until I enter my dreams where my pleasure is no longer restricted by social distancing.«
A global gangbang? Cabin fever? You can hardly express more beautifully and erotically that the Corona crisis also affects us all sexually. For now, porn actors have to shoot solo or with their partners, at least in the USA and Europe. Will this become a trend? We will see.
Here you find the trailer for the film (with sex scenes). (On xConfessions you can access the whole documentary).