 |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
 |
|
 |
|
This documentary, spiced with archival footage and expert commentary, is comprised of interwoven interviews with men and women (both couples and singles) who talk candidly about their views and experiences with monogamy. The subjects respond to a variety of germane questions, from "Are You the Marrying Kind?" to "Do You Confess or Conceal?" to "Can You Forgive?" to "Does Honesty Work?" As interviewees consider these issues (sometimes squirming under the gaze of his/her partner), it becomes clear that the "state of our union" is in fact a nation divided - and that monogamy is a personal and sometimes circumstantial matter. Among those we meet: · Kathy and Bill - Married almost 50 years, they met at their freshman orientation and got married "so they could have sex." They recall never having heard of monogamy when they began dating; in fact, Bill had never even heard of oral sex or a clitoris. He's come a long way since - once a minister, he's now a psychologist/sexologist who views infidelity as symptomatic of larger issues, sometimes even calling it a "blessing." · Mark and Michelle - Married 17 years, this couple met when he was working as a male stripper and a part-time gigolo. Michelle says she was fine with the arrangement - before they were married. Today they agree that honesty and sex helped them get over rough patches, including Mark’s long "sabbaticals" early in their marriage (Michelle put an end to that by having her own affair). Nowadays, despite having three kids, they always make time for sex, dates and role-playing to keep the "spice" in their relationship. · Nan and John - Married 23 years, Nan and John are "polyamorous," having been in a relationship with another couple for years. The pair describes the process of courting, becoming sexual, and falling in love with the other couple, with all the joys and inherent challenges of such an unconventional situation, including their children's disapproval. But it's a lifestyle that works for them, at least now. As Nan says, "One person can't meet all your needs." · Thomas and Alison - Engaged with but not necessarily on the same page as her fiancé, Alison seems stunned when he says women are "naïve" about what happens on a "boys night out." She can't fathom her future husband cheating without ruining their marriage, and thinks it's impossible to hide a man's indiscretion from his wife. Thomas disagrees, shocking his future wife. · Statia and Peter - Another young engaged couple, they were both in relationships with others (he was engaged) when they first met. Each wants to be monogamous, and agrees it would be difficult to forgive the other for cheating. If Peter strayed, says Statia, she would question "everything," though she adds, "If you are in a relationship you care about, you have to tell." · Matt and Stephanie - Married a dozen years, they recall how friends approached them about "swinging," but decided against it after realizing they would be "too jealous." The couple's marriage has endured some rocky times, but Matt now considers Stephanie his "best friend." · Tia and Adam - Gushing that she's engaged to her "perfect man," Tia recounts the pain of finding out that her first boyfriend, with whom she assumed she was exclusive, actually had multiple other "girlfriends." While Adam adds that while he and Tia are "sexually compatible," he says it isn't the only thing that matters, that couples also must have mutual interests. · Tracy and Tricia - These two young women are both single and straight. Tracy says she "can't wait to get married," and felt envious at her sister's wedding. She admits having held onto one relationship while starting another, "just in case." Tricia is a self-proclaimed "hopeless romantic." Both are familiar with cheating, which brings out "every insecurity." · James and Peter - As one of two straight bachelors, James says he can see himself being monogamous, but only "down the road." Peter just moved in with a girl who rubs his back (not for long, quips James) and can "imagine" spending the rest of his life with her. Both agree that having been cheated on makes you "think twice" about doing it to someone else. Ultimately, we're asked, does monogamy have a future? Perhaps the most honest assessment is from columnist Dan Savage, a gay man who knows a thing or two about relationships: "We think of monogamy like we think of virginity. You're a virgin until you have sex and then you're not a virgin anymore. We should think of monogamy the way we think of sobriety, where you're monogamous or sober until you fall off the wagon, but you can sober up, you can "monogamous back up." CREDITS: Produced and Directed by Thom Powers; Executive Producers: Jan Rofekemp, Diana Holtzberg; Creative Consultant: Diana Holtzberg; Co-Producer & Camera: Luke Deikis; Editor: Mark Juergens; For Cinemax Reel Life: Supervising Producer: Nancy Abraham; Executive Producer: Sheila Nevins. |
|
|
|
|
||
|
HBO INFO JOBS AT HBO CONTACT US TAKE CONTROL SITE INDEX SCHEDULE PDF REGISTER/SIGN IN | |
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
> Privacy Policy > Terms of Use | |
|
||
|
© Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This website is intended for viewing solely in the United States. This website may contain adult content. |
|
|
|
|
