Chemistry Eases the Pain, produced by Pink and White Productions, and directed by Shine Louise Houston, with Jiz Lee as the first Assistant Director, is about figuring out who we are sexually. The film has some terrific cinematography, a good soundtrack, and humor, and the actors playing Frankie and Matt were convincing in portraying the nuances of the emotions they experienced.
From the beginning, with the opening scene of the chemistry lab, the sounds of liquids being poured, and the background music this viewer was hooked, although I wish the lyrics were were more intelligible.
The subject matter of the movie is established with a scene in which three queers are reviewing a porn film: “Porn is all about fantasy and it’s the biggest male fantasy to bag a lesbian: We’re reviewing this for diversity, sex positivity and production.” The discussion then becomes more targeted to the conflict that is explored in the film—sexual identity. “Bisexuality counts as diversity.” No, argues someone else—“It counts as fake.” Setting up the theme of the film—the struggle to accept what Frankie says, “I’m just making the point. People will fuck who they want to fuck, when they want to fuck them.” And that’s okay. Or is it?
Not by choice, Frankie is drawn to her chemistry study partner, Matt, and is forced to confront her ambivalence about what she wants, and her fears of rejection by her queer community. The sex scene between Frankie and Matt—she’s his first “bagged lesbian” though he seems to genuinely care for her—and he’s her first boy—is realistic and touching. Her confusion and conflict suggest not only that she feels like she’s a traitor to lesbians, but a fear of a mainstream lifestyle that characterizes heterosexual partnerships:“Damn it, I’m going to end up married, 3 frickin’ kids, with a minivan, wearing yoga pants.”
A dorm mate ODs and the ambiguity of whether it is Matt seems a bit of a gimmick because there’s been no suggestion that he would be at that kind of risk. Yet, why is Frankie so upset when she hears about the death? When Matt re-appears, an observer as Frankie gets it on with a woman whom she meets in a bookstore, its’ unclear if he’s an angel or is he Frankie’s inner voice, expressing her struggle—effectively and realistically. The lesbian love-making scene parrots the experience of Matt and Frankie only now Frankie is the teacher.
In closing the film returns to the question of science and chemistry, Frankie leaving class after handing in her final. In the background, there are the lyrics, “chemical blues.” That’s all we know.
As a CIS white female I appreciated the exploration of the questions most of us confront at some time in our lives. Taking the hint, reviewing Chemistry Eases the Pain for diversity, sex positivity and production, it’s all there. And more, offering a thoughtful consideration of why we make the choices we make.
