Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution (2017)
Benjamin Nolot’s Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution is an unflinching observation of today’s hookup culture, created by a generation of young people whose lifestyle has become less conservative over the years.
At its start, the documentary blames the media for a prominent display of sexualized content, not only in liberated films but all formats, citing this as the primary cause for the hypersexualized nature of young adults. From here, Nolot documents a spring break party, populated by college students who are blissfully taking a break from the stress of their academics. When Nolot asks about their hopes for the party, their responses are straightforward: to get as much sex as they can. This spring break party seems to reinforce the scary new norm of casual sex lifestyle that encourages everyone to get laid with the first person they see.
The partygoers of the documentary might have assumed that Liberated, during its filming, was merely a vlog documenting a spring break party. Many guys appeared to be happy knowing they were recorded on video, flaunting their skills to prove they could get as many women a they want and easily get girls to join them in their hotel rooms. Another group of men was shown proudly initiating non-consensual gropes onto unsuspecting women, getting close to what is known as rape culture and sexual violation or sexual assault. Liberated branches out as an expose on power relations between genders: from the demands of masculinity to every woman’s endless battle with inequality.
Liberated is not an easy watch – it is disgusting, disturbing, and ultimately heartbreaking. However, endure its painful truths and you will find a reflective study of our generation.
