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Sex and Zen
玉蒲團之偷情寶鑑
1991 99 min Hong Kong R 18+
★6.2
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Director: Michael Mak
Trailers
Description
A recently married scholar goes on a quest for knowledge of other people's wives, based on his philosophical differences with the Sack Monk. He encounters the Flying Thief, who agrees to help him find women, but only if he attains a penis as big as a horse's. The scholar has a surgeon attach said unit, and he's off and running on his mission, only to find that there are obstacles to his new lifestyle, such as jealous husbands and treacherous females.
US Gross:
$396,003
Worldwide:
$2.37M
Starring
Lawrence Ng
Actor
Amy Yip
Actor
Kent Cheng
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Sex and Zen is a polarizing genre hybrid that blends explicit eroticism with period comedy and cautionary moral themes. While some viewers admire its unique visual aesthetic and philosophical undercurrents, others find the narrative disjointed and the editing jarring.
| Production | The production design and costumes successfully evoke a vibrant, authentic-looking ancient Eastern aesthetic. | |
| Theme | The film utilizes graphic, explicit content not merely for titillation, but as a mechanism to explore themes of vanity and the dangers of sexual excess. | |
| Editing | The editing is frequently perceived as choppy and disjointed, hindering the flow of the narrative and character development. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay's attempt to bridge slapstick humor, horror, and philosophical inquiry creates a jarring tonal inconsistency that leaves the audience unsure of the film's intended purpose. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is criticized for unevenness, with some finding the contemplative or comedic segments engaging while others experience periods of boredom. |