The Ceremony (2015)

4.7/10 75 min Documentary

Overview

In an extravagant house in Paris, people gather for sexual ceremonies in luxurious environments. The 83-year-old author, Catherine Robbe-Grillet is the brains and heart behind the erotic role playing. She is the dominatrix who controls what goes on and her partner, who is 31 years her junior, has promised to submit to her smallest command. Lina Mannheimer portrays a puzzling, intellectual and deeply fascinating woman who, accompanied by her husband Alain Robbe-Grillet, has dedicated herself to investigating sex both in life and in literature. The sadomasochistic ceremonies are presented with an intense presence and cinematic focus in this beautiful and thought-provoking debut film about desire, power and silk scarves.

Cast

Catherine Robbe-Grillet

Self / Dominatrix

Beverly Charpentier

Self / Dominatrix

Alain Robbe-Grillet

Self (archive footage)

Sandra Haraldsen

Dominatrix

Lina Mannheimer

Self - interviewer (voice) (uncredited)

Recommendations

The Cheshire Murders
Daguerréotypes
In the Realms of the Unreal
Varda by Agnès
Love, Marilyn
Tricked: The Documentary
Woman
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
McQueen
Above Majestic
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition
Maidentrip
A Plastic Ocean
Public Speaking
Seduced and Abandoned
Cameraperson
To Be Takei
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home
Directed by John Ford