SAFE SPACE

SAFE SPACE follows three women as they pursue a more fulfilling sexual life by exploring the world of BDSM.

Good sex can be learned – much like the art of cooking or playing an instrument. At least, that’s the belief of Alexandra (24). SAFE SPACE accompanies her on her journey to explore and learn about her sexuality. Her life, shaped by a rural environment and Christian religious values, is turned upside down when she meets Sharka, a sex therapist from Basel. Instead of acrobatic sex positions or life-changing G-spot massages, she learns one primary thing from Sharka: self-acceptance. In their joint sessions, Sharka challenges Alex’s deeply held beliefs, plunging her into crises of conscience as she grapples with the duality between being the ‚good girl‘ who wants to meet others expectations and the desire to live out her own pleasure uninhibitedly.

Parallel to this, we meet Patricia (38) from Barcelona. She has been paraplegic since a sports accident 20 years ago. For a long time, she suppressed her sexual desire because society does not grant her this right. People with functional diversity are neither perceived as sexually active nor as sexually attractive. She also does not receive any state support for sexual basic needs. It is only when she meets Glüwür (38) that Patricia discovers the world of BDSM and realizes that sexuality is much more than penetration. Since 2019 the two women run a studio in Barcelona that offers sex-positive workshops and ‚play-parties‘ that also include people with functional diversity. Together, they fight against societal norms that dictate how women, in particular, should be.

In Ceriana, a picturesque Italian mountain village, Shadow (66) and her partner Chris (71) spend relaxing summer days, fully aware that this might be their last vacation together as Chris has been diagnosed with cancer. They splash in the river, enjoy ‚gelati‘, and talk about their relationship. Shadow learns for the first time that her asexuality has not always been easy for Chris. Chris, on the other hand, learns more about Shadow’s work as a dominatrix and why BDSM is healing for her. Due to his own painful experiences in the hospital and boarding school, Chris finds it difficult to understand why someone would voluntarily seek physical pain. Back in Antwerp, Saara (36) sees it very differently. She visits Shadow to be flogged by her. In this extreme situation, Saara accesses hidden parts of herself. Her curiosity about how far she can go leads her deeper and deeper into her subconscious – a search for strength and independence.

SAFE SPACE is a film that challenges and makes you feel that your own universe knows no boundaries. Together, we embark on a journey that broadens horizons, contributing to more openness and acceptance of ourselves and others.

#sexuality
#feminism
#kink
#selfempowerment
#joy