Fridae

Fuelled by superb performances, this controversial film is a must-see for fans of serious cinema, students of acting, and any serious observer of human nature. It is certainly not a film that you will forget anytime soon.

Acclaimed German actor Juergen Vogel plays a sex addict who, in the first 20 minutes of the film, rapes a woman. He is arrested and sentenced to psychiatric detention for nine years. After his release, he is a changed man who desperately wants to lead a normal life. But temptations abound, as the film skillfully depict him always trying to contain himself in the presence of attractive women.

One day, he meets a troubled young woman (the very talented Sabine Timoteo), who has about as many skeletons in the closet as he does. They are drawn to each other, but he does not want history to repeat itself. Can he sustain this relationship? Or will his inner demons take over his actions again?

Running at close to 3 hours, The Free Will is not an easy film to sit through. Oftentimes, you are not sure whether to hate him or feel sorry for him. You get anxious whenever there is a woman on screen, but at the same time, you desperately want him to succeed in becoming a better man. In some ways, his affliction and addiction to sex seem to be no less natural than our own homosexual/transsexual orientations.

The title seems to be completely ironic. Does anyone really have a "free will"? Did we queers, for example, choose to be homosexual or transsexual? The film's protagonist is aware that his strong sexual impulses are frowned upon by society. But he cannot seem to help himself.

As LGBT viewers, you may have a better understanding of his conundrum than straight audiences do. So if you like dark, intelligent films with memorable acting, this is one film you shouldn't miss.