“Obey your husband and do as he pleases.” To women living in this modern world this would be dubious, but for those in the 70’s like Linda Lovelace, this is an obligation that they have to keep even if it means misery—a situation that although overwhelming, can still be averted.
Contrary to what some people might be thinking about the movie Lovelace, it is not an unmasking of the 70’s porn industry; nor will it give anyone a boner. Instead, it is a peek into the life of a famed 70’s porn star, Linda Lovelace (Amanda Seyfried) and how she was used and abused by her husband Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard).
Lovelace opens with Linda Boreman, (later to be known as Linda Lovelace) as a typical girl with a personality screaming for freedom from her draconian mother (Sharon Stone) and her somewhat ambivalent father (Robert Patrick). An opportunity to escape opens for her when she meets the suave Chuck Traynor, who later turns out to be not as charming as he initially seems to be.
Linda and Chuck carries on a relationship quite sweet at the beginning with Chuck attempting to win over Linda’s parents; but once Linda moves in with Chuck, her life shifts into a nightmare of battering and sexual services.
Lovelace filmmakers, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, present the story from two points of view. In the first part of the film, Linda’s story was told in a way most people around her at the time of her ascent to fame would probably have observed it. But, in the latter half of the film, the story was re-narrated this time from Linda’s point of view.
In the first story-telling, Linda is encouraged by Chuck to star in a porn film to help loosen their financial condition, but in the second story-telling, Linda is forced to do a porn film. Apart from doing the film, she is even forced by her husband to sleep with men and do sexual services for money.
The film covers stages in Linda’s life, from when she was still a naïve girl wanting freedom so much, to being an abused wife wanting to break free, to finally being able to successfully escape her miserable life, have a family of her own, and be brave enough to tell the world of her life through an autobiography.
Lovelace is not sit ‘back and relax’ kind of movie in the sense that the domestic violence featured in the film is quite heavy to the heart; but it is inspiring to most women as it shows hope in being able to escape a life of violence and be vindicated of the stigma that it leads to.
Linda Lovelace is probably the first star in the 70’s daring enough to perform ‘blowjob’ on camera. Her first starring role in the top grossing 1972 film Deep Throat led her to fame. But from the almost $600 million dollars gross that the film garnered, Linda was only able to earn merely $1,250.
The film also stars Bobby Cannavale, Hank Azaria, Wes Bentley, Juno Temple, Eric Roberts, Chris Noth, and Adam Brody as Linda’s Deep Throat co-star Harry Reems.
Originally published in Rizalhenyo
