Bliss

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Bliss

R

1997

1h 43m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Little about marriage is blissful for newlyweds Joseph (Craig Sheffer) and Maria (Sheryl Lee) -- especially the sex. Maria has never had an orgasm with him. They both see a therapist (Spalding Gray) who doesn't seem to help much. This becomes evident when Joseph discovers that Maria has been seeing a very hands-on sex therapist, Baltazar (Terence Stamp), on the sly. Joseph is crushed -- but after confronting them, he is surprised to find himself joining them on their journey.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Amazing, how good acting can find the truth in well-written material.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

USA Today

Writer/director Lance Young is so relentlessly solemn ... that some viewers may giggle.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mark Meszoros

The News-Herald (Willoughby, OH)

You can't shake the feeling Bliss may have more to say, to reveal, to the viewer on a repeat viewing.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 12, 2021

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 18, 2004

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Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

A hilariously pretentious drama taking a PBS approach toward sexual mechanics: Masters and Johnson meets Masterpiece Theatre.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jul 30, 2004

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Rick A

Brave topic, deftly handled.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/23

Full Review

Rosana B

Gostei, uma análise da análise realizada por um casal com problemas sexuais… Instigante e divertido, embora não tenha humor, muito pelo contrário, seja bem mal-humorado, todos os personagens o são, suas ações são ora cômicas, ora violentamente extravasadas, ora sexualmente reproduzidas, um filme morno, mas com muita tensão sexual envolvida, com descrições sexuais e cenas quentes, entretanto polidas… Muito interessante as dicas da "terapia do Prazer" todo homem e mulheres tb assistir, didático...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/22

Full Review

Audience Member

This is one of the best movies that show the therapeutic side of Tantra. They never say that is what it is but for those of us who have at least attempted to master it, it is clear. However, if you are a former victim of Child Sexual abuse or have issues with scenes of mental hospitals, I highly suggest you watch with caution. It is very insightful into those things and handles the subject matter delicately though the wife does have a flashback that is a bit graphic. But this movie changed my approach to my own recovery so it is worth the little bit of pain it can inflict to find a different way when nothing else is working.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was really enjoying this movie until halfway through, when I looked it up and read that it was not supposed to be a comedy. Flippant and tonally all over. Clumsy. I felt almost as though I were juggling two different movies.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

gregg d

Sad, Eye Opening offering a little hope

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

I think this was one of the most sensitive and accurate movies about what it's like for sexually abused women in a committed relationship. I loved the female perspective

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Lance Young

Director

Craig Sheffer

Joseph

Sheryl Lee

Maria

Terence Stamp

Baltazar

Casey Siemaszko

Tanner

Spalding Gray

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Synopsis

Little about marriage is blissful for newlyweds Joseph (Craig Sheffer) and Maria (Sheryl Lee) -- especially the sex. Maria has never had an orgasm with him. They both see a therapist (Spalding Gray) who doesn't seem to help much. This becomes evident when Joseph discovers that Maria has been seeing a very hands-on sex therapist, Baltazar (Terence Stamp), on the sly. Joseph is crushed -- but after confronting them, he is surprised to find himself joining them on their journey.

Director: Lance Young
Producer: Allyn Stewart
Screenwriter: Lance Young
Production Co: Triumph Enterprises Inc., Triumph Films, Stewart Pictures, Pacific Motion Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 1997, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $207.8K
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround

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