Docuseek | Do Communists Have Better Sex?

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This is about sex. About sex in Germany and who, on which side of the Iron Curtain, was better at it. At the end of the Second World War, Germans shared the same culture, lifestyle, morals. But four decades later, everything had changed. Forty years of division left their mark in many places including the beds of the German people.

November 1989. The Wall comes down and brothers and sisters from the East have become almost unrecognisable. Sociologists have a field day, and investigate from a strictly scientific point of view, of course everything to do with sex in the two Germanies.

Is dictatorship plus a planned economy the sure-fire formula for a natural aphrodisiac? At least in bed, according to the statistics, the communists were victorious. How could it have happened? Didn't the West do everything to intensify the desires of its citizens? Wasn't there sex in abundance for every man on every street corner? Was it to do with the church in the West or did affluence make people lethargic? Was it better in the East because women earned their own money? Or because there weren't any other distractions and people took refuge from the state in bed?

DO COMMUNISTS HAVE BETTER SEX? reveals an up-to-now unknown and curious chapter of political and entertaining erotic history.

'This compelling documentary shows that the Cold War was also fought in bed, and that for a long time it was the Communist East who retained the upper hand. ...a well-made documentary that can serve for classroom screenings in modern history, gender studies, and cultural studies.' -Anthropology Review Database, December 2011

'Pithy... an entertaining, visually appealing package, including aptly chosen archival footage and colorful, witty animated segments... A fascinating cultural time capsule and, one hopes, the start of some lively discussion. Frequent nudity, sexual situations, and profanity but kept firmly in context; suitable for mature teens and up and recommended for most libraries.' -J. Osicki, Library Journal

'Has enough serious content to warrant serious consideration for academic use at the research and classroom level... a film that belongs in any university library.' -Benita Blessing, H-Net Reviews in the Humanities and Social Sciences

'Brings up important issues concerning state and politics and is more than just an exercise in sensationalism... there's real subject matter to be found.' -Citysearch.com

'Entertaining and informative... One can use this video as a discussion starter in a variety of classes... a valuable addition to the history of sexuality.' -David S. Hall, PhD, Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality

'Amusing! Eye-popping archival footage!' Sydney Morning Herald

'An odd but amusing documentary... offers an offbeat look at life in East Germany during the Cold War years, punctuated with delightfully randy animation ... viewers with an appreciation for the absurd will enjoy the film's charm and style. Recommended.' -P. Hall, Video Librarian

'Often humorous, always informative... Would be appropriate for those studying sexual politics and sex education... Recommended.' -Jessica Schomberg, Educational Media Reviews Online

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Main credits

Meier, André (Director)
Meier, André (Screenwriter)
Deckert, Heino (Producer)
Challand, Irène (Producer)
Lamunière, Gaspard (Producer)

Other credits

Photography, André Böhm; sound, Mario Krauss; editing, Thomas Kleinwächter.

MARC Record See Worldcat record

Keywords

communism; sex studies; sexuality; trends; sex education; sexual freedom; East Germany; documentary; film; video; "Do Communists Have Better Sex?"; Icarus Films,doc; history

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Do Communists Have Better Sex?

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