Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex

I have big love for Tristan Taormino projects. Big love for Vivid Ed, Chemistry, her books, and her sex positive style. So when I received the screener for her new porn “Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex” I, loving Tristan and rough sex individually, was ready to have big, big love. And I did. As with other projects by Taormino, “Rough Sex” creates what appears to be an easy combination of mainstream porn scene with a radical look at porn, pleasure, and consent. “Rough Sex” follows the fantasies of five women, delving into fairly architypical fantasies, the likes and dislikes of the performers, and the method that Taormino, as the director, uses to create the scene. The entire creation seems rooted in performer-directed play. Taormino acts as facilitator, moderating negotiations and providing avenues for the performers to explore their fantasies. In the first scene, Adrianna Nicole, a good friend of the store, discusses how she was able to request who she would be working with. The film then cuts to Nicole’s scene partner, Marco Banderas, discussing why he likes working with her. This kind of genuine connection is a keystone of Taormino projects. And, there is something inherently relaxing knowing that the stars were enjoying themselves, especially when it comes to rough sex.
Rough sex is often misunderstood, placed in a nebulous category of “kinky”, making the average woman or man believe that they should maybe get their head examined. Yet this film very clearly shows the normalcy of these desires, made more believable by the performers intelligent commentary and relaxed, playful attitudes. The final scene drives home the radical foundation of this film. Sasha Grey and Danny Wylde engage in a fairly detailed negotiation of the sex they are about to have, including a discussion of their likes, dislikes, and establishment of a safe word. Talk about consensual sex!!!
If you want to watch rough sex without consent echoing in the background, this film is not for you. The ladies are clearly enjoying the scenes they have created, so if you are looking for something where sexual pleasure is not a priority, this is not for you. Also, although clearly feminist, this film falls pretty soundly in the straight porn genre. So, if you are looking for a bunch of rough queer sex, this is not the film for you. (We’ve got some good stuff that falls under rough and queer though).
Tristan Taormino continues to work towards, what I see as, a radicalization of the porn industry. “Rough Sex” challenges who and how we should be having rough sex, making consent and desire sexy. Check it out. You can rent or purchase this film at the store or buy it online.