Didn't Do It for Love

Didn't Do It for Love, an engrossing 1997 documentary film by renowned filmmaker Monika Treut, delves into the multi-faceted – often paradoxical – life of Eva Norvind, a figure teeming with complexity and contradictions. Best remembered for her successful acting career in the Mexican cinema during the 1960s, Norvind's story permeates layers of unexpected ventures and transitions into a sociocultural study of female empowerment, sexual expression and human resilience.

The Reluctant Diva, as the Norwegian-born Norvind, is often referred to, had an immensely varied and vibrant career. Starting as a cabaret dancer in Paris, she subsequently landed in Mexico, becoming an iconic and much-loved actress throughout the 1960s. However, beneath the surface, Eva Norvind's life was far from the glitz and glamour of show business.

In Didn't Do It for Love, we see the transformation of Norvind from a film superstar to a domina (a dominatrix) and then a respected sex therapist and educator in New York City. More than just a biographical recounting, the documentary reflects broader reflections on power, gender, sexuality, and acceptance, refracted through the personal journey of a highly unconventional woman.

Monika Treut, known for her standing as a phenomenal LGBTQ+ filmmaker, uses her lens to portray Norvind's unconventional lifestyle while simultaneously speaking volumes about society's ever-evolving attitudes towards female sexuality and empowerment. Treut's admiration for her subject material is evident but doesn't shield us from the more unfiltered aspects of Norvind’s reality, making for a more honest and realistic portrayal.

Musicians Georg Kajanus and Johanne Kajanus broadens the perspective on Eva Norvind's multifaceted life, further expanding on her complex persona. Each chapter of Norvind's life is treated independently, offering a kaleidoscopic view of her life that collectively forms a cohesive narrative about her life and experiences.

The standout element of Didn't Do It for Love is the engaging direction from Treut. She approaches Norvind's story with a non-judgmental perspective, nimbly navigating between her areas of fame in Mexican cinema to her transition into the American underground BDSM scene and subsequent career as a sex therapist and counselor.

Treut also incorporates interviews with those who knew Norvind personally. Her children, friends, colleagues, ex-lovers, and clients all provide intimate, honest testimonies of their experiences with Norvind throughout different periods of her life. These secondhand perspectives add an additional layer of understanding, affording us a glimpse into the contrasting experiences and perceptions of Norvind as a woman, actress, domina, therapist, and mother.

The film also shines a light on important discussions of sex, power, and gender. It cleverly and honestly encases these complex dialogues within the life experiences of Norvind, making them accessible, relatable, and human.

Although centered around Eva Norvind, Didn't Do It For Love, in its essence, also becomes a story about society and its attitudes towards women, sex, and power. By revealing the multifaceted layers of a woman who dared to express and live by her own terms, Treut's film simultaneously invites us to reflect upon the issues of female empowerment, gender conformity, and the stigmas associated with sexual freedom.

Overall, Didn't Do It for Love is a fascinating account of a woman's journey of reinvention, resilience, and her incredible determination to overcome societal norms. Treut navigates Norvind’s intriguing life with a deft, respectful touch, resulting in a remarkably insightful, bold, and daringly honest documentary film. It’s both a tribute to an extraordinary woman and a poignant reflection on society’s complex and evolving relationship with gender and sexuality. Not just a biography, the film invites viewers to reconsider their own concepts of femininity, power, and sexual freedom.