Controversial film where director received unsimulated oral sex in scene

Films where directors blur the lines between reality and fiction always pique the interest of film fans.

Whether it’s Mr and Mrs Smith’s added chemistry due to the affair behind the screen, or even something as simple as a romantic film that led to a real-life couple – we all love it.

In the case of this one controversial film though, they may have taken that a little bit far.

Check out the trailer here:

The film in question is called The Brown Bunny, released in 2003 and directed by polarising filmmaker Vincent Gallo.

Premiering at Cannes, the film received as mixed a reaction as is probably possible.

A publicist attached to the film claims it received a 10-minute standing ovation, while other sources claim Gallo’s name was booed and jeered throughout the credits.

The film also stars Gallo as a motorcycle racer who travels across the country in search of women to replace the hole in his life left by the one true love in his life, played by Chloë Sevigny.

The film had mixed reactions. (Sony Pictures)

The Brown Bunny is an art-house film to the extreme, bizarre, slow in pace, and focuses primarily on male loneliness.

Gallo’s most controversial scene involves Sevigny performing oral sex on the director-star.

While this scene later turns out to be a figment of his imagination, Gallo still had Sevigny performing unsimulated oral sex on him.

This scene contributed to the mixed reaction to the film at Cannes.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert reportedly clashed with the director after the screening, leading to a massive argument between the pair.

(Sony Pictures)

While the two famously feuded, a shorter, more well-regarded cut of the film was screened years later – with the film critic giving it a more positive three out of four rating.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about how she believes the scene 'hurt' the movie, actor Cheryl Tiegs revealed how she came to feature in the film, and her feelings on the sex scene at the time.

“I got a message that Vincent wanted to talk to me about a movie. I didn’t call him back right away because I didn’t know who he was,” she explained.

“But after a month, I called him back, and he told me, ‘If you don’t know who I am, watch Buffalo ’66.’ I was cavalier about it all, pretty much because I’m not an actress. But when I finally saw it, oh, my God, I loved the film so much. I couldn’t get to the phone fast enough.”

Discussing *that* controversial scene though, Tiegs explained how she wishes it hadn't been included.

(Sony Pictures)

“I feel comfortable [performing oral sex], just not watching someone else do it,” she added.

“I wish he hadn’t included that scene because it might have hurt the film, but I know he doesn’t care. I run into Vincent every once in a while, but it’s been a couple of years. I wish I could talk to him again.”

Meanwhile, Sevigny says she thinks the scene is misunderstood.

“I knew people would not understand it,” she told the Associated Press. “When you see the film, it makes more sense.

"It’s an art film. It should be playing in museums. It’s like an Andy Warhol movie.”

Regardless of what you think, if the goal was to get a reaction, Gallo succeeded in spades with this film.

Topics: Film, TV and Film

Michael Slavin