Bold, brave and extremely daring, Shame deals head on with sexual addiction and the fear of commitment. Although there's full frontal nudity and some graphic sexual scenes, its eroticism never offends; there is a sincere honesty in its telling that offers a realistic journey into the realm of sexuality.
Crucified by sex and imprisoned by an insatiable sexual appetite, the character played with verve and vitality by Michael Fassbender is not a likeable or compassionate human being. Brandon, a young New York executive, may seem secure and sociable on the surface, and comes across as the man every woman wants to be with, and the kind of guy that every man want to be friends with, but underneath this glossy façade lies the malicious soul of a man who is abusive towards women and shamelessly uses them to satisfy his own carnal pleasure, then discards them physically and emotionally.
Fortunately, Shame is not a trashy and shameless exploitation film, but a masterful and artful British film from director Steve McQueen, and marks the second collaboration with Fassbender (who starred in McQueen's Hunger and was also seen in Inglorious Basterds).
Brandon's apparent luxurious and contented lifestyle crumbles when his rebellious and free-spirited sister Sissy, an up-and-coming singer, gatecrashes his promiscuous routine and creates a vulnerable awareness that confronts his habitual addiction and corrupt mindset. Fassbender's alluring and brutal charisma is powerfully challenged by Carey Mulligan (An Education), who delivers an unforgettable performance, turning Shame into a lethal war zone between brother and sister; one that you most definitely will never forget.
Fassbender is mesmerising in his daring and heartfelt performance, stripping his character bare with a raw and emotionally charged sincerity. Mulligan is equally powerful in her sensational portrayal of vulnerable souls in search of love and meaning, and whose fragile disposition severely impacts on her brother's moral code as well as their susceptible sibling rivalry. The sibling rivalry in Shame is unmatched in its telling and delivery; the love/hate relationship is explosive and destroys their humanity, yet heals their own humaneness and guides them to a moving process of transformation and spiritual healing. It's a fierce and loving battle that never spins out of control, but is powerfully manipulated by the smart script (co-written by McQueen and Abi Morgan, who also wrote The Iron Lady).
Morgan perfectly understands the role of a woman dominated by men and whose sexuality is exploited, just as McQueen aptly explored obsessive behaviour in Hunger.
It is interesting to note that whereas the stunning local Afrikaans film Skoonheid brilliantly explored the tragic results of repressed sexuality in a small-town conservative society in Bloemfontein, how superbly Shame shows sexual prowess and promiscuity in a liberated society in a city like New York. Both films clearly reveal how shrouded sexuality becomes malignant and fosters a harmful guilt trip that triggers irrational behaviour and a corrupt conscience.
With films like Shame, Skoonheid and Shortbus, human sexuality becomes a potent conversation piece that will hopefully set people free from the constrictions imposed by morality and society.
McQueen paints a stark and visually arresting portrait of a man trapped in guilt, and powerfully uses sound and image to crawl into the soul of his characters. Shame will offer discerning audiences, and anyone looking for first-rate cinema, a visceral and emotionally challenging experience that should not be missed under any circumstances.
Don't be ashamed to share Shame with a friend or loved ones; it's one of those rare films that has a special charm and undeniable artistry that is too good to deny.
Rating 5/5
Shame was filmed in New York City in February and March, 2011.The film is the second collaboration to involve director Steve McQueen (Hunger) and actor Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds, X-Men: First Class). The film continues in the visceral and intimate vein McQueen established in Hunger, his 2008 directorial debut, while broadening its scope from just one central character to explore the challenges of contemporary human connections. After the critical success of Hunger, which won McQueen the Caméra d'Or (first-time director) award when it premiered at Cannes, McQueen and Fassbender were eager to work together once again. "Michael is a genius, really," said McQueen. "I want to work with the best actor there is, and I think he is, basically." Fassbender was likewise drawn to work with McQueen again out of his admiration for the director's tendency to push actors to their limits. "Steve really sets the tone, so everybody is kind of terrified and excited at the same time," Fassbender said. "It's sort of like letting go and getting rid of the safety net and free-falling."
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