Australian writer-director John Duigan (FLIRTING, WIDE SARGASSO SEA) brings an agreeably light touch and gently liberating spirit to this relatively tasteful sex comedy about an Anglican minister, a free-thinking artist, and five (count 'em) beautiful women.
In London, at the turn of the century, church officials are scandalized by an exhibition of the paintings of Norman Lindsay (Sam Neill), particularly his depiction of the Crucifixion featuring one of Lindsay's nudes (his own wife Rose, played by Pamela Rabe) in the role of Christ. Stuffy English
vicar Anthony Campion (Hugh Grant is sent to Lindsay's remote Australian home to persuade the prickly artist to substitute the offending item with a less heretical work. Campion and his pretty but repressed wife Estella (Tara Fitzgerald) intend to stay only a day, but a train derailment forces
them to remain longer. While Anthony and Lindsay argue about art and religion, Estella falls under the influence of Lindsay's sexy, uninhibited live-in models--aspiring artist Sheela (Elle Macpherson); left-wing rabble-rouser Prue (Kate Fischer); and the aptly named aspiring actress Giddy (Portia
De Rossi).
Thankfully, Duigan doesn't pretend he's bringing lightning bolts of liberation to the perennially uptight. His tongue is always at least partially in his cheek, and he's refreshingly even-handed in his approach to character. Admittedly, SIRENS is a male fantasy despite its focus on a female
character, but it's the antithesis of leering misogyny. As might be gathered from the title, the men are anything but in control. SIRENS is a rare, genuinely erotic film that's a pleasure to watch even when its characters are fully clothed. leave a comment
