I'm not sure what the message is here. Is it that South Americans are as horny and twisted as the rest of us in the Northern hemisphere? Maybe it's a message that messed up parents make messed up kids? Whatever. The message is pointless. The only thing worth watching this for is the cinematography. It's a beautifully shot film in a very beautiful location. There's so much color and clarity in the picture that it's almost hard to suspend your disbelief that it's set in the 70s.
17 Reviews
Director of photography
marcoamfernandes8 February 2019
Your Average Melodrama
TrTm3167 November 2018
Desire is your average melodrama: its exaggerated characters and contentious events appeal to the emotions, dramatizing a scenario surely uncommon but by no means improbable. Estranged sisters Lucia and Ofelia differ greatly in their attitudes toward sex, the degree of satisfaction sex provides each of them, and their ability and desire to please a partner. Occasional flashbacks show the havoc already wrought as the women became who they now are.
Unexpectedly brought together at Lucia's wedding, the sisters and the men in their lives find self-control overwhelmed by desire. Fidelity gradually goes out the window. When this is discovered, the crap hits the fan.
Desire is well acted for a melodrama, and not unbelievable, I think, even though the lifestyle in a wealthy estate is so unfamiliar. The direction left a couple of minor points unclear; that might be the result of my dependence on subtitles. And it's explicitly sexual, which apparently surprised or offended a number of reviewers. If this film -- whose plot is all about sexual desire -- had not shown strongly simulated sex, I would have felt that it failed to suspend disbelief. Desire does not, however, come even close to the "primarily intended to arouse" standard of pornography: it's just explicit enough that you know the characters' passions. A couple of kids riding horsie on pillows, made relevant only by the adult narrator, is hardly worthy of complaint.
Watch Desire when your brain is too tired for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but not yet jaded enough for Dirty Blondes from Beyond. It's not great, but it isn't horrible, either.
Unexpectedly brought together at Lucia's wedding, the sisters and the men in their lives find self-control overwhelmed by desire. Fidelity gradually goes out the window. When this is discovered, the crap hits the fan.
Desire is well acted for a melodrama, and not unbelievable, I think, even though the lifestyle in a wealthy estate is so unfamiliar. The direction left a couple of minor points unclear; that might be the result of my dependence on subtitles. And it's explicitly sexual, which apparently surprised or offended a number of reviewers. If this film -- whose plot is all about sexual desire -- had not shown strongly simulated sex, I would have felt that it failed to suspend disbelief. Desire does not, however, come even close to the "primarily intended to arouse" standard of pornography: it's just explicit enough that you know the characters' passions. A couple of kids riding horsie on pillows, made relevant only by the adult narrator, is hardly worthy of complaint.
Watch Desire when your brain is too tired for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but not yet jaded enough for Dirty Blondes from Beyond. It's not great, but it isn't horrible, either.
Absolute Garbage with capital G
es002527 December 2017
It only takes five minutes to know this movie is garbage. If you keep watching more than that, is at your own risk. You've been warned.
Bad acting, bad writing. Aesthetic over substance.
Horrible, forgetable, unbearable, unwatchable.
Save your time, your money, your life, your everything.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS.
This is what happens when cinema is done without love
darkhorizon-6324526 February 2018
This movie could be best described as what we Argentinians call a "bazofia" (piece of shit). Our cinema is funded by a corrupt organisation called INCAA which never heps developing or underground artists who have interesting proposals to offer. No. Instead, it finances mediocre directors such as Diego Kaplan who as an opportunist, casts a model who has been lately in the news because of an affair she was victim to. The problem is, the girl can´t act, she is stiff, unexpresive almost to the point of making you cringe. The rest of the cast is no better (well, maybe a tad better).The movie tries to be controversial, sensual and a little pervert but fails in every department. It is not even soft porn.
Bearing a failed composition taken from vintage love novels, the movie takes the fight of feminism and insults it in very way. The representation is shameful and so is the script, the "humour", the "drama" and everything else. This is really a hideous spectacle.
I can't begin to imagine the feeling of hundreds of talented Argentinian cinematographers who have to see movies like this being made and exported while their budget is not even enough to finish their productions. Meanwhile, the arts institute of Argentina (INCAA) run by ignorants, money grabbers and corrupt politicians is looking for the next yellow celebrity to produce in a haste the next horror show.
Bearing a failed composition taken from vintage love novels, the movie takes the fight of feminism and insults it in very way. The representation is shameful and so is the script, the "humour", the "drama" and everything else. This is really a hideous spectacle.
I can't begin to imagine the feeling of hundreds of talented Argentinian cinematographers who have to see movies like this being made and exported while their budget is not even enough to finish their productions. Meanwhile, the arts institute of Argentina (INCAA) run by ignorants, money grabbers and corrupt politicians is looking for the next yellow celebrity to produce in a haste the next horror show.
Couldn't get through the first 5 minutes
realityinmind28 June 2018
I heard about this movie from a news report about the first scene. It is true what they say. Now there are clearly worse movies that portray much more horrible acts towards children, such as A Serbian Film..... BUT that movie isn't on Netflix. Desire is on Netflix. What's up with that? If I wanted to hear about 10 yo girls having orgasms then I would read a Lena Dunham book (and then go throw up). I guess this could be worse... it could have Lena Dunham in it! GROSS.
What an Ungodly Mess!
shatteredstairs23 December 2018
I wish I could give this film a zero-star rating. One does not simply watch Desire (Desearás al hombre de tu hermana) - no, no, no, no, no. Desire is a film that one must endure. To put it simply, this movie is among the very worst of what cinema has to offer. If that's what you've been searching for, look no further. There are 1) no redeeming qualities whatsoever and 2) nothing compelling about the film. However, every time I see a film, I learn something, so I always enjoy seeing a film regardless of whether or not the film is 'good' or 'bad'. Now, in this circumstance, I must say that if I've learned but one thing, it's that everyone involved in making this film should be ashamed of themselves, with the exception of the child actresses - and especially the parents of those children, because those kids had no say in whether they wanted to be a part of this unholy mess. And I'm sure they had no idea what they were taking part in. Not only this, but I fear that they may grow up ashamed of their roles, though I hope they do not. It isn't their fault. This film is disgusting and positively lifeless. I've seen many disturbing films - grotesque, even - but this film is repugnant, repulsive, abominable. Never before have I seen a film that, while I sat there, thought "I really would prefer if every copy of this film and every trace of it was wiped from existence." It's the only movie I've ever seen that I think one could argue is a declaration of war on cinema itself. I couldn't tell whether the film was trying to be funny and lampoon other erotic films, or whether the film was supposed to have 'that' type of humor. Being that it was the first result when I typed in "erotic" in Netflix's search menu, I incorrectly assumed it would be worth viewing. I couldn't have been more wrong. I simply wanted to explore a genre of films I don't normally watch, and this is what was waiting for me: what is, without a doubt (and without hyperbole), the worst film I have ever seen. In that way, this film reminds me of imitation sushi, always there waiting to be eaten by you . . . Even readily available to you. Yet, when you take a bite you simply confirm all your misgivings, reluctance, and reservations. In other words, don't try it.
Cheap, softcore pornography
napaxo29 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After reading bad reviews ,i decided to see it and decide for myself if it's bad or not and .............. it's bad alright. Even right from the start, the movie provokes the viewer with sexually suggestive use of children and from there on doesn't get any better. The characters are soulless ,the performances empty, political correctness is rampant and you constantly get the idea that it's nothing more than a cheap softcore porn b-movie. It offers nothing to the viewer in terms of either sensuality or entertainment, so you can safely skip this one ,knowing that you don't miss out on anything important.
Piece of garbage..
daksdiaz16 August 2018
Lucia Y la hermana
kosmasp22 April 2021
Don't worry the review will be in english ... although I hope you didn't think I'll go on in Spanish. The movie is in spanish and I had a little bit of that in some courses ... but never enough to write a whole review of a movie. Having said that, the summary line is me connecting this (losely) to another movie ... which also has sex in it.
And nudity of course. Although full disclosure, it is not really explicit. And I write that, because I did not go frame by frame to check certain scenes. Especially when it comes to oral pleasure, while I'll always take my hat off for anyone who performs in the nude, pretending to pleasure someone else orally is on another level. At times you could maybe say mouth acting is great, but I do believe that there is some penis substitute that is being sucked on.
Enough of the very detailed description of some scenes, though I do feel that some should be aware that this is not afraid to go places ... mainly places lying south (with the mouth) .. ok sorry couldn't resist. I do not think this will be able to have or sustain pleasure levels from watching that some may expect. So while some may be offended by not just the sex, but also the cheating and family theme and other things sexual, others may think this does not go far enough. For the latter there are other places to look for stuff like that.
The drama is real and there is even some action/blood/violence which I didn't expect to be honest. A weird little movie for sure, set in the 70s with some lovely throwbacks ...
And nudity of course. Although full disclosure, it is not really explicit. And I write that, because I did not go frame by frame to check certain scenes. Especially when it comes to oral pleasure, while I'll always take my hat off for anyone who performs in the nude, pretending to pleasure someone else orally is on another level. At times you could maybe say mouth acting is great, but I do believe that there is some penis substitute that is being sucked on.
Enough of the very detailed description of some scenes, though I do feel that some should be aware that this is not afraid to go places ... mainly places lying south (with the mouth) .. ok sorry couldn't resist. I do not think this will be able to have or sustain pleasure levels from watching that some may expect. So while some may be offended by not just the sex, but also the cheating and family theme and other things sexual, others may think this does not go far enough. For the latter there are other places to look for stuff like that.
The drama is real and there is even some action/blood/violence which I didn't expect to be honest. A weird little movie for sure, set in the 70s with some lovely throwbacks ...
An embarassing junk. Garbage !
lvbjnlvbjn19 October 2018
Not a film. Just cenography.
antoniocvbraga-906-65351118 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Where did they find those actors? That set apart, nice cenography. Including incredible wireless loudspeakers and a portable reel to reel tape recorder that did not jam while carried around. No cinema at all, however.
Only watched to see what all the hoopla was.
MiketheWhistle24 August 2018
Other reviews suffice to say this is garbage, and they are correct and I could tell in about 5 minutes. I also believe that this foreign film should not be on American screens as so much press has said. I truly wish remove it either voluntarily or via force.
A Cringe-Worthy Cinematic Flop
KunvarAishwary10 August 2023
"Desire" (2017) was a total flop-show and unbearable. It's like they took a adult film storyline and slapped it onto the big screen, thinking that'd make a movie. Seriously, it's practically softcore adult movie parading as a mainstream flick. You've got messed-up family cheating drama, screwed-up desires, and these weird fantasies that honestly bring zero value to the table. They even added gore and violence to satiate the hunger of people having those fantasies. I mean, come on, why bother? It's like they aimed for shock value and forgot about any kind of substance. I couldn't roll my eyes hard enough. This one's a solid zero stars in my book. Total waste of time.
Masterpiece ! One of the best movies I have ever seen !
rio-3619521 September 2018
I am very surprised to see such poor ratings of this movie. I think it is a masterpiece. This only proves that general public will go for empty , shallow, entertaining content. So many artists were not recognized during their lifetime, and it seems to be the case with this movie. This movie is like a very , very good, deep book. You have to know how to watch it. It It is full of hidden character description. Full of metaphors,mystery , humorous perversion. It actually makes you think about human characters. The music is marvelous and seductive and in in perfect symbiosis with content . Each actor is perfect for the character they play and they execute it brilliantly ! You can feel, almost taste , sensuality without being exposed to cheap, porn content. Directing is superb.It is on par with Federico Fellini's best movies. I watched it three times and will be one of the movies to watch over and over again .Please watch it very carefully.Pay attention to small details in which you will find hidden meaning. Savour it! Enjoy it !
Good erotic film
lynaespinoza-9232612 July 2020
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