Good Dick (2008)

"That was an incredibly odd exchange."

                                                         - Simon

Marianna Palka's Good Dick is a fascinating romantic drama with a take that on the genre that you probably haven’t seen before (or at least done this well).

A woman who goes to her local video store daily to rent soft core porn becomes the object of affection for the video clerk. It’s a simple situational setup that masks the layers beneath. The woman is cold and distant and seemingly not interested in a relationship, of any kind, despite the constant attempts by the video clerk. In fact she treats him pretty shitty. Not until the end of the film when we meet her father do we really understand her. She’s been sexually abused by him, the first man in her life, and that shapes how she interacts with other men. The clerk too isn’t without issues to be addressed. He’s battled drug addiction which may explain his addictive personality and why he won’t give up on her despite the vitriolic insults and humiliation she dishes.

It’s been said that hurt people hurt people, and that concept is exemplified well in this film. She treats him like shit because that’s what she knows. She maintains control of their relationship because she knows how awful it feels to be the one being controlled (It now becomes interesting that her erotic interests lie in soft core porn: porn without penetration as the clerk tells her). Many times throughout the film she dominates him (even simulating rape) to humiliation, and it’s painfully clear that she’s been through hell.

Through it all we are left with a hopeful ending. A confrontation with her father and reconciliation with her video clerk are small steps in her progression. In the end we’re left with two damaged people moving forward together. Hopeful, indeed.

(Be careful Googling this one - the title may lead you to the dark side of the web!)