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In Romanian writer/director Radu Jude’s absurdist social satire, high school teacher Emi (Katia Pascariu) faces a public scandal after a personal sex tape is uploaded to the internet. Subtitled “a sketch for a popular film,” Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn establishes its bold nature in the opening minutes by showing the explicit sex tape at the heart of the story. The sex tape itself is both graphic and ridiculous; at one point, while Emi is performing oral sex on her partner, she’s interrupted by a woman (possibly her mother) shouting questions from the next room. It is an unabashed, aggressively in-your-face sequence that almost seems to mock the expectation of shocked and scandalized reactions from viewers.
Jude presents the film in three parts, transitioning from one to the next using frilly pink title cards. Each section is markedly different from the others, contributing to the film’s art-house vibe. Part one, titled “one-way street,” offers significant contrast in tone and style from the introduction in that it is slow-paced and removed from the action. It finds us observing Emi from afar as she goes about her day. The camera pans slowly to take in the humdrum of life in the city, losing sight of Emi altogether before relocating her in another shot. The camera captures bits of everyday civilian frustrations, conversations, and road rage. From occasional glimpses into Emi’s conversations, we glean that the parents of the high school where she works have called a disciplinary meeting with the headmistress requiring Emi’s attendance.
Part two, a “short dictionary of anecdotes, signs, and wonders” takes viewers through the entire alphabet, defining a carefully chosen list of A-Z words with biting, often offensive social commentary. Jude tackles everything from colonialism and religion, including the Romanian Orthodox Church, to war, death, and sex. The word “Zen” features a still image of a gruesome-looking mummy, and the ‘definition’ dictates that “human life must be seen as both tragedy and comedy.” This definition ties well into the overarching theme of Loony Porn, particularly as the film transitions into the tragicomedy that is part three.
Emi faces a kangaroo court in part three, “praxis and innuendo,” as she meets with a group of scandalized parents and the school’s headmistress. Shot during the pandemic, Loony Porn incorporates social distancing and masks into Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn. For some parents, their masks are an extension of their personality, while for others the masks offer another layer of social critique.
The parents make outrageous accusations and constantly humiliate Emi while they put her on trial. They watch the sex tape in front of her and make lewd and offensive remarks about her throughout the meeting despite Emi’s firm attempts to stand up for herself. The discussion derails and the parents end up airing all kinds of general perceived grievances that reveal their misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Semitism. Jude uses the parents’ outrage and accusations to portray a very cynical, tragicomic view of society in which, as Emi says, “the more idiotic an opinion, the more important it is.” Certainly, the parents rely on being the loudest and most outraged to forcibly get their way. It’s a laugh-so-you-don’t-cry (or scream) situation, particularly upon realizing these parents are like the comments section of the internet.
Loony Porn’s three possible endings propel the film deeper into experimental territory and offer a small amount of relief to viewers. The parents vote multiple times on whether to fire or keep Emi, and violence ensues in every scenario. Finally, Emi erupts and lives out her profane revenge fantasy, leaving viewers with an eclectic assortment of feelings.
The shifting combinations of vastly different structures, tones, and narratives in the film sometimes work to its advantage, creating a highly stylized film experience. Other times, it simply feels disjointed. The pacing of each section sometimes lags, making viewers anxious to get back to the main narrative. While Loony Porn’s social commentary on the absurd state of society can be quite dark, the film hopes to expose and upend it with a healthy dose of loud, biting satire. Whatever you may think of the film, it’s certainly an unforgettable experience.
© 2021. UniversalCinema Mag.