Take This Waltz (2011): The Dance of Desire and the Boundaries of Fidelity
In this episode of Sex, Bodies, and Cinema, Jason and Ashley dive into Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz (2011), a poignant and emotional drama that explores the complexities of desire, fidelity, and the search for meaning in relationships. Starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman, the film follows Margot (Williams), a married woman who finds herself torn between her stable, familiar life with her husband Lou (Rogen) and the magnetic allure of Daniel (Kirby), an artist living across the street.
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses themes of emotional conflict, infidelity, and personal identity within relationships. Please take care when listening.
Hosts:
Jason Goode is a Somatic Sex Educator and Somatic Performance Coach. Learn more about his work and offerings at somarelating.ca.
Ashley Rose is a Sexological Bodyworker & intimacy coach who specializes in internal pelvic care. Visit her website at ashleyelisabethrose.ca for resources, workshops, and private coaching.
Explore Your Relationship Patterns:
Take Jason’s Hidden Relationship Patterns Quiz: Uncover subconscious patterns that influence how you show up in your relationships. Get started with the quiz at https://kiki-g8bvhlnj.scoreapp.com/ .
Transform Your Relationships:
Jason also offers The Authentic Intimacy Course as a follow up to the quiz, designed to help you bring clarity, confidence, and authenticity to your relationships. It’s only $59 and you can use promo code CINEMA25 to get 25% off. Go to: http://www.somarelating.ca
Find the Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZV2L3Qv4TQzXnYSfpFutU
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Topics Discussed:
[03:00] Ashley and Jason’s initial thoughts on the film’s portrayal of longing, dissatisfaction, and the emotional struggles of Margot and Lou.
[10:00] The role of Margot’s emotional needs and how she navigates her connection with Daniel in contrast to her relationship with Lou.
[17:30] Exploring the dynamics of love, routine, and passion within Margot and Lou’s marriage and the underlying themes of emotional suffocation and longing.
[25:00] The role of Daniel (Luke Kirby) in challenging Margot’s self-perception and her understanding of desire and intimacy.
[35:00] The importance of communication and emotional vulnerability in relationships—how misaligned desires and emotional needs can create tension and confusion.
[45:00] A deep dive into the film’s portrayal of the inner conflict that Margot experiences, and how her relationship with Daniel invites her to confront her personal desires.
[55:00] The film’s ending: Margot’s journey toward self-realization, emotional acceptance, and the inevitable gap between what we desire and what we can achieve in our relationships.
[1:05:00] A reflection on how Take This Waltz challenges romantic conventions and offers a deeper look at the complexities of modern love and desire.
Additional Resources:
Take This Waltz - on IMDb: Link
Katherine Monk’s excellent book on Canadian Cinema: Weird Sex and Snowshoes.
Cosmo Meens’ website has great resources around navigating desire: https://www.himerosproject.com/resources
Sign up to watch SSE Cosmo Meens’ Anatomy of Desire workshop.
Mating in Captivity - Esther Perel’s exploration of the tension between love and desire, this book helps couples address how to keep desire alive in long-term relationships and navigate the complexities of fidelity, intimacy, and attraction.
About the Podcast:
Sex, Bodies, and Cinema explores films that tackle taboo subjects related to sex, embodiment, and intimacy. Co-hosts Jason Goode and Ashley Rose bring their expertise in somatic sex education and filmmaking to spark thought-provoking discussions.
Produced by: Jason Goode
Editing and Mixing by: Taqi
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/ultraviolet
License code: Z4EEWFS5NCW8VM6H
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