Hard core sex action on Bermuda's big screens? Doesn't seem likely does it?

Yet cinema goers at the late showing at Little Theatre on Saturday night got the works with oral sex, penetration and masturbation all graphically depicted during the showing of '9 Songs'.

Thankfully there was no hypocritical hyperbole from the religious lobby.

While a handful of people walked out, most in the near-full cinema stayed until the end and saw a brave and convincing portrayal of modern, adult relationships ? with the "adult" very much left in.

As director Michael Winterbottom explained beforehand, it makes no sense for cinema to duck the issue of sex when literature no longer discretely closes the door when the characters get between the sheets.

He explained that sex is a big part of being in love for most people so why leave that crucial out on the big screen?

Winterbottom's '9 Songs' covers the blossoming and then faltering relationship of an English scientist who meets a young American student working in London.

Lisa is flighty, Matt is more serious about the relationship and takes her on trips around an England which seems to be lit by a single 60 watt light bulb.

It's a bit depressing and there isn't much plot. They have sex and then they go to a concert ? nine times. It might as well have been called '9 Copulations'.

The film could have been improved with more dialogue and fewer songs.

Apparently the script grew out of improvisation ? which must have been a blow for Kieron O'Brien when his co-star Margo Stilley blurts out that he's so ugly.

She's right of course ? but she's no oil painting either. Indeed this weakens the argument for those who deem it pornography as I doubt few people can honestly say they enjoyed the sight of the pair of them going at it for much of the film.

As the film goes on the couple ? and the director ? get bolder and bolder in their love making. Even though Matt never seems to follow Lisa's instructions.

At first blush Lisa seems to be the racier of the two but she also nurses lingering and significant inhibitions.

So it is not aesthetic, it was rarely erotic but it was utterly convincing as a slice of life movie.

Winterbottom deserves credit for pushing the boundaries. Isn't it time we stopped veering between affected shock and smutting innuendo about an act which led to all of us being here?

Whether other directors are going to follow him all the way to showing full orgasms is open for debate.

But hopefully we can at least start addressing the issue of sex on the screen properly rather than leaving it in the hands of the pornographers.