Movie Review: Vancouver Film Festival Secret Museums

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.