7 Must-Watch Sex Education Films That Keep It Real

Good sex education films are rare to come by. For the simple reason that the S-word and everything associated with it is still heavily taboo. In the absence of real-time sex education offered to impressionable teens, how can one really expect mature movies on the subject? The content is contentious and so filmmakers have preferred investing too much in it.

Sex is a common enough theme in films across the world, including here in India (encouragingly, we have graduated from symbolic flowers kissing to humans kissing on screen). But more often than not, it is a poorly constructed comedic trope or a romantic tangle. Mainstream films have kept their distance in speaking a mature language of "sexual pleasure or truly diving deep into the many aspects of it.

Teen pregnancy, safe sex, sexuality and curiosity - these are all significant realities for the youth population that is starved for dependable, authentic information. Sure, films are not the best source to rely on for that kind of education but they can be a starting point for people to be encouraged in their search for further knowledge.

Here Are 5 Such Sex Education Films You Can't-Miss

1. The Sessions 

A 2012 erotic-comedy, The Sessions delves into a multilayered exploration of what sex can mean. It follows the journey of a man paralysed with polio and his association with a sex surrogate hired by him to lose his virginity. The film stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt in the lead and opened to wide critical acclaim. Though the theme of romance between the two leads undercuts the plot, the subject of sex is addressed sensitively and intersectionally with disability.

2. Hysteria 

The premise of this 2011 biographical film takes head-on what films only make passing references to the vibrator. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hysteria is set in the 1880s Victorian Era, under-progressed in terms of women's health. Hysteria, believed to be a common affliction among women of the time, was "treated" through genital massage (without the realisation that an orgasm was being induced). The film explores the complexity of female pleasure and the circumstances that led to the creation of the vibrator.

3. Hide And Seek 

A documentary-drama from 1996, Hide And Seek is a compassionate comment on the exploration of sexuality and identity, with the story of a 12-year-old girl at the centre of it. Comprising interviews, the film invites experiences narrated by lesbian women who recall their sexual awakening during their youthful years. Avant-garde filmmaker Su Friedrich is at the helm of this piece so viewers can be assured this black-and-white watch will be worth every minute.

4. Thanks For Sharing 

Supported by an ensemble cast starring Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carol Kane, Tim Robbins and others, Thanks For Sharing, released in 2012, tracks the life of people attempting to recover from sex addiction. While this is a pure drama film and does not successfully deliver any social messaging, it presents several different situations that are tied together by the complexities, such as the grey areas of physicality in relationships and personal sexual behaviours.

5. Too Young to Be a Dad

Too Young to Be a Dad is a 2002 television film that inverses the narrative form of teen pregnancies that is focused on expecting mothers and views the issue from the lens of fatherhood. When two youths, both 15, engage sexually only to find that the girl is pregnant, their initial approach is to put the baby up for adoption when it comes. The boy, however, turns the thing over in his mind and concludes that he wants to take responsibility for the baby helped by his mother, a teacher.

6. Masters of Sex

This period drama follows Drs. William Masters and Virginia Johnson as they explore groundbreaking sexual research. The show is filled with steamy scenes and humour, but it also tackles serious issues. It examines the ethics of their research methods and addresses societal views on homosexuality and female sexuality, particularly the belief that vaginal orgasms are more 'mature.'

7. Transparent

This award-winning Amazon Prime series brilliantly explores the experiences of Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM). The story centres on a father of three who comes out as trans to his adult children. As he transitions, each family member is prompted to explore their own gender identity and sexual preferences.