Self/ies

“I. Feel. Good.” In her first ever erotic film, Livia Vye explores how it feels to take naked photos of herself. She experiments with posing and taking photos in the mirror, appraising her own naked body through a lens, appreciating how she might look to another person. The experience is enlightening – and arousing. Inspired by her photography, she masturbates to orgasm. Her voiceover gives a deeper meaning to what we see.

Livia is a sex worker based in the Netherlands. Until this film she’d never done porn or even taken photos of herself naked. Self/ies captures this moment of self discovery with sensitivity. The film encourages us to ruminate on the meaning of this kind of self-portraiture. It is often depicted as narcissistic but in reality, it’s more about body image and self-acceptance.

The internet has allowed women to seize the means of production of porn and to create imagery that reflects their own point of view. This is the female gaze reflected back upon itself. Self/ies is a feminist porn film in every sense.

Self/ies screened at the 2015 Pornotopia festival in Albuquerque USA.

You’ll find the short film, the full scene, director’s commentary and interview at Bright Desire.