Idiots (1998)
This Lars von Trier film about a group of intelligent, bored individuals who decide to stir up their lives by acting as if they have developmental disabilities in public, was the second film made under the strictures of Dogme 95, requiring natural lighting, handheld cameras, and no special effects or makeup. Appropriately to the natural approach, the film also features real sex scenes.
Pola X (1999)
This film, based on a Herman Melville novel, and directed by Leos Carax, receives mixed reviews ranging from intense to just intensely pretentious, and most of the attention in the U.S. had to do with the steamy and apparently real sex scene between the two main characters. Read more about Pola from About.com's
Guide to World Film:
Romance (1999)
Catherine Breillat's film about a woman's exploration into the depths of her own sexual meaning, has, like many films in the list, been panned and praised. In addition to many obviously real sex scenes, Romance featured the mainstream debut of porn superstar Rocco Siffredi, whose acting certainly did the porn world proud (which is saying something).
Baise-Moi (2000)
Called "a kind of Thelma & Louise on crack," Baise-Moi is full of explicit real sex, and while it may be worth seeing, it's far from erotic. The film is violent, difficult to stomach in parts, and some critics say it's just plain bad. But there's no question that Virginie Despentes directorial debut (the film is based on her novel of the same name) uses sex to challenge viewers in ways unthought of by the makers of, say, 9½ weeks.
Intimacy (2001)
The censorious British Film Review Board decided to leave a real oral sex scene intact in Patrice Chereau's film about two people who meet for casual (and in the case of one of them, adulterous) sex every Wednesday.
The Pornographer (2001)
A Bertrand Bonello film about a pornographer who took off 20 years from the industry returns to making porn films but finds that the meaning and business of the industry have completely changed -- for worse. The filmed porn scenes apparently feature real sex.
Ken Park (2002)
Director Larry Clark has a habit of putting young people on screen in ways that are disconcerting to many, and Ken Park, which apparently includes two real sex scenes, is no exception.
The Brown Bunny (2004)
This Vincent Gallo film captured plenty of attention for its real oral sex scene starring Chloe Sevigny, and generally less for it's, you know, everything else.
9 Songs (2005)
Michael Winterbottom's latest film experiment mixes live music and real sex. It's also responsible for what may be my favorite closing line of any film review: "The on-screen ejaculations might be more than mainstream audiences are comfortable with, but Winterbottom's intentions are pure."
Battle in Heaven (2005)
Carlos Reygadas' film about the daughter of a politician who leads a double life as a high-end prostitute, filmed with a cast of non-professional actors. Read a review of Battle in Heaven.
Destricted (2006)
Destricted is the first short film collection of its kind, bringing together sex and art in a series of short films created by some of the world's most visual and provocative artists and directors. Explicit in content, they reveal the diverse attitudes by which we represent ourselves sexually. Learn more about Destricted.
Shortbus (2006)
The most recent reminder that if you put real sex in a movie, that's all anyone is likely to talk about. This John Cameron Mitchell film chronicles the sex lives of a group of New Yorkers. Read a review of Shortbus.
