She's Lost Control

She's Lost Control is a 2014 drama fil, directed and written by Anja Marquardt. The film is an intense and deeply personal exploration of the exhausting, yet strangely enjoyable world of surrogate partnering therapy. Starring Brooke Bloom, Marc Menchaca, and Dennis Boutsikaris, the film not only demystifies the world of therapy but also presents a compelling observation of human needs, desires, and social interaction.

The film's protagonist is the captivating and complex Ronah (played by Brooke Bloom). Ronah navigates through the film as a surrogate partner therapist, assisting men with various issues related to intimacy and sexual dysfunction. She’s an empathetic, confident professional who is dedicated to her client's progression, providing not just physical connection, but also emotional support. Bloom's doctoral portrayal of Ronah allows the character's resilience and tenacity to shine through, despite the intensely challenging nature of her profession.

Marc Menchaca plays a new client, Johnny, who is dramatically different from others Ronah has worked with before. In sharp contrast to Ronah, Johnny is shy, deeply closed off, and financially successful but emotionally penniless. He’s e to Ronah’s therapeutic sessions with deeply entrenched intimacy and trust issues. Marc Menchaca's performance masterfully balances vulnerability and mystery, adding depth to an otherwise intimidating character.

Dennis Boutsikaris plays the pragmatic therapist who refers clients to Ronah and occasionally provides her with advice. His performance serves as an excellent foil to Bloom's character and provides a critical third dimension to the film. The ambiguous relationship between their characters adds a fascinating component to the exploration of psychosexual dynamics in the movie.

The title, She's Lost Control, is significantly symbolic and ties strongly into the exploration of power dynamics, autonomy, and consent in the film. The irony of a character who helps others gain control over themselves but fails to maintain control over her own life forms the core of the story. Ronah's struggle to maintain professional boundaries and yet genuinely empathize with her clients creates a fine line that she walks throughout the film.

The cinematography in the film effectively solidifies the film's intense mood. The camera angles often focus on the spaces between characters, emphasizing the disconnect in their interactions and the vast emptiness in their worlds. The film also makes use of dim, natural light, furthering the sense of disconnect and separateness, and in the process, enhancing the raw and gritty feel of the story.

The film's direction skillfully represents the therapy sessions without fetishizing or sensationalizing, maintaining a respectful gaze. Anja Marquardt’s work excels in illustrating a unique aspect of therapeutic engagement. She delivers a film that is thoughtful, courageous, and provocative, underlining an often-misunderstood dimension of the therapeutic world.

The screenplay, though minimal in dialogues and action, is dense with implications, making the audience think and reflect on the underlying themes. The writing excellently navigates outside the usual Hollywood tropes about connection and is delicately nuanced – full of silences, absence, and implication. The film’s narrative is not spoon-fed; it demands an active audience who are comfortable with uncertainty and are willing to engage with the film’s complex themes.

She's Lost Control ultimately centers on the difficulty of human connection, the complexity of boundaries, and the inherent vulnerability of trust. The film's focus on surrogate partner therapy offers a unique perspective on the concept of intimacy, desiring, and healing. It serves as both a character study and a deep dive into a profession that walks the line between therapy and prostitution in the eyes of many.

This film is worth watching for those interested in intimate character studies and unique professions. Be prepared for a slow burn plot that unspools at a thoughtful, but not hurried pace. It isn't a film for the faint-hearted, or those looking for light-hearted entertainment. Instead, She's Lost Control is a thought-provoking, insightful, and sensitive depiction of an unconventional profession and the intricate human need for connection, delivered with admirable skill by the film's talented cast and crew.