Ryan McNeil
THE SESSIONS is the story of Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes). Mark caught a really bad case of Polio at age six, and since then has lost motor skills in much of his body, and requires an iron lung to breathe. That hasn’t held him back in life as he has earned a degree from UC Berkeley, become an accomplished poet and a professional journalist. While all of these are wonderful accomplishments, O’Brien still finds himself missing something – the emotional connection that comes with being in a loving relationship.
He tries to open up to one or two women he likes, but sadly finds himself rebuked. However, during a journalistic assignment, he has something of a breakthrough. The assignment is to write about sex and disability, and through the course of his research, he speaks with several men and women who are able to fulfill their physical and emotional needs despite limitations. It’s here that the light goes on, and Mark decides that in order to truly be able to open up to the right women, he’ll need to do something about his virginity at age 36.
Before he can really “go on the prowl”, he needs approval. As a Catholic, he believes that it’s best to see where God might stand on his decision. Thus he goes to his local church and introduces himself to the pastor, Father Brendan (William H Macy). In a conversation that is very much like a confession, he explains to Father Brendan what he wants and how he intends to go about it. While the good priest wrestles with the moral question, he believes in his heart that even though in the eyes of the church sex is supposed to wait until after marriage, that God would give Mark a pass on his quest. He warmly gives Mark his blessing, and in so doing becomes Mark’s spiritual guide going forward.
This brings Mark to the attention of Cheryl (Helen Hunt), who is a sexual surrogate. The deal is that they will have six sessions together, where she will help him try to relax and become in tune with both what he wants physically, and what his body is capable of. It’s sort of like he’s seeing a shrink, except a shrink that is willing to take her clothes off and get into bed with him. The hope is that by listening and opening himself up to Cheryl, that Mark will be better equipped to express himself physically to the right woman…whoever the right woman happens to be.
THE SESSIONS is the sort of film that comes with a narrow margin of error. At a glance, it’s a film that seems like it should be playing on Sunday night on The Lifetime Network. However, everyone involved has approached the film with a certain level of honesty, humour, and heart, that the usual pitfalls of “based on a true story” get successfully navigated. What we’re left with is a film that is both frank and warm. Much of what brings those qualities to the forefront comes from the three lead actors, so let’s focus on them.
John Hawkes is asked to do a lot with very little. Mark is (of course) lying down for the entire film, and that his condition doesn’t allow him to even raise his voice. So how does an actor convey the full gamut of emotions with such restrictions? Hawkes finds a way, through an honest expression, and a tone of voice that is both hopeful and self-deprecating at the same time. It’s to be expected that Hawkes would have researched the man to understand him better and embody him as best he could. That being the case, Hawkes tapped into what most made Mark who he was. Mark is a poet, and through the tone of his words and the look in his eyes, Hawkes plays the part with a poetry of truth and sadness.
Helen Hunt is able to work with more (a lot more as it turns out). However, she too must find the right centre for her character to work. Her role comes with a certain degree of power, and even though she goes out of her way to diffuse much of that dynamic, she remains in that position for the entire story. From the moment she arrives she asks for trust – trust in a situation that leaves another at their most vulnerable. To gain our trust, she gives us hers – speaking frankly, with just enough warmth, and shedding her armour to appear as vulnerable as Mark is. Hunt has found a sweet spot for Cheryl: play her too clinical and we won’t open to her, play her too friendly and we won’t heed her advice. Hunt finds the balance, and it’s what gives her performance some lift, and makes her dynamic with Hawkes work.
Then there’s William H. Macy as Father Brendan. Growing up Catholic, I’ve actually met a few priests like Father Brendan – though they are indeed few and far between. The role itself is a wonderful touch to the film, as it allows Mark a counterweight to Cheryl. Where she is guiding him physically, Father Brendan guides him spiritually. The great thing is that we can clearly see that Father Brendan does not take Mark’s situation lightly. Sure, he fully supports Mark being able to better understand his body in the hopes of better expressing himself when the right woman comes along, but he struggles with what supporting that decision means in the eyes of God. Ultimately, when he offers his advice, he does so from a place of love and understanding. In doing so, he very much becomes a counterweight to Cheryl – a person who is both a mentor and a friend.
What these three actors do with this script is turn it into a true examination of sexual expression. There are laughs of course as the sessions have the hiccups one would expect from a sexual novice learning the ropes, but eventually we start to think about what we take for granted. Sex has reached a place where if it isn’t entirely casual, it’s certainly part of the courting stage of a relationship. To some, it’s seen as “no big deal”, even though to others that couldn’t be further from the truth. No matter what your take on it, the fact is that sex is the expression of physical affection as an adult, and if one can’t easily express that physical affection, one has to wonder what that says about them as an adult.
THE SESSIONS understands all of this, and rolls it into the story of one unforgettable man. Like its protagonist, the film may speak with a very mild tone, but its words are well-measured, and will leave you with a great deal of joy and warmth.