Parents' Guide to

Venus in Fur

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Play-based Polanski drama has strong sex talk, language.

Movie NR 2014 96 minutes
Venus in Fur Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Playwright Thomas (Mathieu Amalric) is preparing to direct his adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel. It's been a long day, he's seen a batch of unpromising and annoying actresses, and he's exhausted. Out of the rain walks Vanda (Emmanuelle Seigner), late, wet, and popping gum. She seems all wrong, but she persuades Thomas to give her a chance to audition for the part, a beautiful woman -- also called Vanda -- who inspires a man to become her sex slave. Surprisingly, the actress seems to know the role extremely well, not only having brought costumes and props, but also having researched beyond just her lines. Thomas begins to think that he's found his perfect actress, but who is she, exactly, and where has she come from?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Venus in Fur never forgets to be playful and fluid, always moving, shifting gears, and surprising. Throughout his career, from his feature debut Knife in the Water (1962) to Carnage (2011), director Roman Polanski has specialized in wringing psychological tension from just a few characters who fall to pieces within limited spaces. In VENUS IN FUR, that place happens to be in the theater, and because it's based on a play by David Ives, some viewers may find the movie too stagy or stagebound.

But Polanski doesn't use the theater setting like a stage, and it moves very much like a movie -- a highly skilled one at that. Polanski uses all the lights, space, moods, and props available to him, including the leftover sets from a prior play (a musical version of Stagecoach). The movie isn't necessarily titillating or erotic, which may disappoint viewers. It's more about the psychology and nature of fetish; it's mostly innuendo.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Venus in Fur's sex content. What's shown, and what's talked about? Is the movie suggestive or alluring, or is it simply interesting? What's the difference?

  • How does the movie end? What does it want you to be thinking about when it's done? What's its point?

  • In real life, director Roman Polanski was involved in a notorious sex scandal. Does that information change the presentation of the movie? If so, how?

  • Why do you think Polanski chooses to end the movie with classic nude paintings?

Movie Details

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