Trailer Watch: A Young Law Student Discovers BDSM in Julia Murat’s Locarno Entry “Rule 34”

Trailers

Trailer Watch: A Young Law Student Discovers BDSM in Julia Murat’s Locarno Entry “Rule 34”

Ahead of its premiere at Locarno Film Festival this month, Variety has exclusively shared the first trailer for Brazilian filmmaker Julia Murat’s third feature, “Rule 34.”

In it, we see Simone (Sol Miranda), a criminal law student who’s passionate about advocating for women’s rights, and who performs in front of a live sex cam to pay her way through law school. After viewing another video one night, an unexplored side to her own sexual desires is unlocked, and she begins to explore BDSM as an avenue to gratification, while seemingly handling judgement from others. “I’m real sorry if my sexual desires aren’t political enough for you,” she tells someone, sounding not very apologetic.

The film’s title refers to an internet concept, the simple idea that if something exists in real life, or is made up, then there will be a pornographic depiction of it out there somewhere. The festival’s own website warns: “This film features scenes that could shock the sensitivity of some viewers.”

Murat — who also co-wrote the script — previously directed “Found Memories” and “Pendular.” The latter won Fipresci prizes at Berlin and the Uruguay International Film Fest. This latest film is a beneficiary of Sweden’s Göteborg Audiovisual Fund, necessitated by the Bolsonaro government’s slashing of film funding in the project’s native Brazil.

“Rule 34” will premiere in Locarno’s main international competition, Concorso internazionale, on August 10. The fest runs August 3-13.