Argentinean filmmakers Marco Berger and Marcelo Monaco's previous film, Volatile (2012) dealt with seduction between gay men. Their follow-up, Sexual Tension: Violetas (or simply Violetas) explores the same theme from a lesbian perspective detailing six unapologetically erotic stories. We open with “Sleep With Me” wherein two women, one a lesbian, the other ostensibly straight, share a room at a youth hostel. Prompted by some obvious flirting, the lesbian makes a pass. Shortly after they have sex, the straight girl accuses the lesbian of molesting her then tries to seduce her again, to the latter's understandable anger and confusion.
Establishing the tone of the anthology overall this first story spins the kind of scenario one would usually expect from porn although Violetas is resolutely not pornographic. Though the camera adopts an undeniably voyeuristic gaze intended to titillate the target audience - and likely more than a few straight men – Berger and Mónaco cut away from any explicit sexual activity. Whether the film rings true as erotica for a lesbian audience without pandering to certain male proclivities one cannot say. To its credit however, each of the six stories concern themselves with the emotional undercurrents leading towards or following shortly after sex. Still, for the most part few of them say anything particularly profound about relationships.
In “Second Hand Clothes” a glamorous shop assistant helps an insecure young woman pick out a new dress. Things get a little steamy as she ends up boosting the latter's confidence and helps her get over a bad break-up. It is a well constructed, tender and heart-warming love story although the ambiguous coda is something of a head-scratcher. “The Apple” proves the most experimental segment, visually striking with minimal dialogue. A young woman accompanies her brother and his girlfriend on a picnic. Inspired by a fairytale she pretends to choke on a “poisoned” apple and lures the girlfriend in for a kiss. Despite a one-dimensional story, the segment works as a mood piece weaving a delicately dreamlike tone.
“Sweetheart” is the most overtly humorous episode. A straight couple on their way to see the new Woody Allen movie dally at a restaurant where a sexy waitress chats up the dissatisfied female half. After discussing the merits of Woody Allen, hair care products and boring boyfriends they end up making out, stripping off and having passionate sex in the bathroom stalls while the oblivious boyfriend waits patiently outside. Despite the undeniably steamy outcome the story meanders and is not all that funny. Rather more impressive is “A Night and a Robot” wherein two high-class call girls discover they are attracted to each other whilst engaged in a threesome with a wealthy client. Featuring a surprise discussion about the merits of Steven Spielberg's underrated A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) – which may have influenced the sleek, clinical, slightly sinister visual style seen here – this subverts male fantasy in a potent way. Though the client revels in his perceived power over the women, he is passionless, clinical and ultimately incapable of stimulating them, either physically or emotionally. After he falls asleep they bond in more ways than one.
Finally we have “The Other Woman”, a rather moving story where two thirty-something friends spend the night trying on make-up, reminiscing about their youth and finally confront the reality that fate keeps them apart. Easily the most multifaceted relationship depicted in the movie, this warm-hearted, emotionally honest vignette ends this interesting, albeit uneven anthology on a high note.
