Her Body

Periodically, there are many movies made that throw a spotlight on the somewhat grotesque underbelly of the adult movie industry. Amanda Seyfreid did well with her rendition of Lovelace and Sofia Kappel was great in the recent 'Pleasue'.

Natalia Germani is excellent as Andrea Absolonova, an Olympic diver retired on health grounds and turned to the 'adult' industry.

The script seems rather squeamish on showing any real emotional torment of entering 'the business' and indeed avoids the real ending of Absolonova's life completely.

Whilst fairly engaging, I couldn't help but feel nonplussed at the ending.

Based on the real life of Czech diver Andrea Absolonova who became a porn star. This film, a Czech made film mainly follows her personal life though of course her professional careers are a part.

The acting is good. Natalia Germani is very good. One problem is the script is thin on actual story just the high (or low) lights of her life. Second problem is the movie focuses seemingly only on the sad or depressing parts of her life. Gives the impression she was never happy during her life for even a moment.

There are two versions of this movie. One has a single unsimulated sex scene, using a body double. None of the nudity which is very limited or the sex seemed gratuitous and are brief.

Biopics can be hit or miss. When they are good they can be very good although often are works of fiction. This is more true to life but skips much and focuses on the sad part of her life. I found it watchable but actually do not recommend it.

1996. Czech diver Andrea Absolonova seems destined for great success. She has been winning national events and is now off to the Olympics. However, a diving incident results in a career-ending spinal injury. This leaves her devastated and aimless. Then her boyfriend persuades her to make an adult video.

Based on the true story of Andrea Absolonova, a film that had potential but in the end isn't profound nor memorable. The fame-as-a-sportsperson-to-nothing-to-fame-as-an-adult-movie-star arc is hardly one anyone can or wants to relate to. There's something to be admired about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps but if that was the moral to the story, the writer-director chose an odd subject and end result for the lesson.

If you were thinking the aim is to show the seediness of the adult film industry, that's not examined at all.

The end result is something that feels quite linear and unprofound, like a simple history lesson with no take away.

Still, it is moderately interesting. Andrea Absolonova is a reasonably engaging character and Natalia Germani puts in a solid performance playing her. There's a few interesting sub-plots though none of these are substantial enough to lift the paint-by-numbers feel of the film.