Orgasm Inc.

Orgasm Inc. is a thought-provoking documentary film that was released in 2009. This compelling film, uses an insightful approach to examine the medical industry, particularly its influence on women's health and sexuality. Directed, written, and edited by Liz Canner, the film stars Canner herself, Darby Stephens and Virgil Place alongside a plethora of health professionals, marketers, patients, and researchers. Although it addresses a serious subject matter, the film doesn't shy away from tastefully infusing humor, which proves instrumental in keeping the audience engaged while leaving a lasting impression.

The storyline of Orgasm Inc. unfolds primarily through the eyes of Canner who, when initially hired for a straightforward editing job by a pharmaceutical company, soon finds herself embroiled in a complex world of medical marketing, clinical trials, and profit-driven research. This multi-million-dollar company's ambitious project is to develop a drug designed to treat Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). Their goal: To make it the first FDA-approved pill to enhance women's sexual experience.

As Canner delves deeper into her work, she begins to question the ethics behind the project. The documentary serves as an exploration into the pharmaceutical company's manipulative marketing strategies that, she argues, ideologically construct the problem of FSD in order to sell a profitable solution. Canner expresses concerns over the misuse of supposed medical findings to push a drug onto women that might not need it, and in some cases, could even put their health at risk.

The framework of Orgasm Inc. offers a hybrid approach of both a personal journey and a journalistic exposé, which enables the audience to fully comprehend the potentially harmful impact of intrusive profit-oriented influence in healthcare. As the narrative unfolds, the viewers are introduced to a range of experts and witnesses, including psychologists, sex therapists, satisfied customers, dissatisfied customers, company representatives, and concerned activists - ensuring a well-rounded perspective on this contentious issue.

Through candid interviews, archived footages, medical seminars, and industry conventions, Orgasm Inc. uncovers a picture of an industry driven more by profit than actual concern for women's wellbeing. This is particularly conveyed by the commercialization of the ideal of the female orgasm, making women believe they have a disease when, in fact, they might just be experiencing a normal variation of human sexuality.

The movie achieves a powerful contrast by interspersing the tone of assertive medical jargon and highly polished promotional material of the pharma company with women’s intimate testimonies about their own sexual health. This approach makes the movie a documentary of considerable impact that calls into question the ethics of medicalizing women’s sexual health for financial gain.

Canner’s very personal involvement in the film's narrative provides a human element that connects the audience with the issue at hand. We watch as she transforms from a video editor into an investigative documentarian, shedding light on how her perspective changes throughout her journey.

Orgasm Inc. is more than just a film about a pharmaceutical company. It serves as an insightful analysis of how corporate interests infiltrate and influence healthcare decisions and societal norms regarding women's health and sexuality. It is a wakeup call to question whether we, as a society, should allow companies to create medical conditions to market their drugs.

Overall, Orgasm Inc. is an educational, stimulating and thought-provoking exploration of a pressing yet overlooked issue. It offers viewers an opportunity to reevaluate and question their preconceived notions about female sexuality and the role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping it. Despite touching on a complex topic, the film maintains an accessible and engaging approach that makes it a must-watch, regardless of one’s familiarity with the topic. It’s a great choice for those interested in women’s studies, pharmaceutical industry practices, societal norms, and healthcare ethics.