SXSW Review: ‘Modern Love is Automatic’

What turns YOU on? Chances are, most of you won’t say that you’re into domination, but for a certain percentage of otherwise average, everyday citizens out there this is where it’s at. Directed by Zach Clark, ‘Modern Love is Automatic’ takes us into that mysterious and taboo world of the dominatrix through the eyes of an unhappy woman who finds she has a desire to dominate men who “need” to be dominated.

Melodie Sisk plays Lorraine, an apathetic nurse who is unhappy with her current way of life. Lorraine is an outsider, feeling unlike those around her her inevitably annoy her or seem oblivious to their own idiosyncrasies. After coming home and catching her boyfriend with another woman, Lorraine begins a journey of discovery that leads her to begin moonlighting as a professional dominatrix. She finds she is especially adept at this trade and through it finds a way to escape the alienation she feels towards traditional society.

I’m not sure I would call ‘Modern Love is Automatic’ a comedy in the strictest sense. It has humorous moments, but are not abundant and fall more into the descriptive categories of dark and dry humor. What is certain is that the movie is an intriguing character study that tackles taboo subject matter in a way that can be appreciated by anyone, so long as they’re willing to maintain an open mind. See, Lorraine is not so much different from the rest of us… she just allows the thoughts and feelings we all have at times to show outwardly without concern of others opinions. She is what we all would like to be, if not just some of the time.

‘Modern Love is Automatic’ develops a great story arc with Adrian (Maggie Ross) as well, an clueless aspiring model who becomes Lorraine’s roommate after she boots her philandering boyfriend out of her apartment. Adrian couldn’t be more of an opposite personality to Lorraine, but their relationship meshes surprisingly well and they actually grow closer in a strange and awkward way.

In the grand scheme of things, Lorraine’s transition into a dominatrix is not the key to the film’s success, but rather the structure of the story and the way in which it is presented. Theoretically, any taboo subject could be interchanged. ‘Modern Love is Automatic’ is told in the docudrama style that allows for a fictional narrative but irresistibly draws the viewer in as though it’s really happening. If you’ve seen ‘Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer’ imagine watching that movie, except replace the life of a serial killer with the life of a dominatrix.

‘Modern Love is Automatic’ is not a fancy film shot with brilliant color and lighting. That wouldn’t have worked as well as the fluorescent and seemingly natural lighting used that not only helps to emphasize the docu-dramatic feel but also encourages the sense that we (the audience) are partaking as voyeurs in a story of intimate and personal relationships between a dominatrix and her subjects.

It goes without saying that many will not appreciate this movie and some will flat out refuse to see it, but the truth is that not allowing yourself to openly engage in this movie is, in some ways, an act of denying one’s self a glimpse into one’s own secretive desires… whatever they might be. On a final note, ‘Modern Love is Automatic’ is NOT about sex. This movie is about finding a way to be yourself in this crazy and bizarre world, filled with crazy and bizarre people.

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]