9 1/ 2 Weeks

Nine and a Half Weeks is a 1986 erotic drama film that features Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger in leading roles, with Margaret Whitton playing a supporting role. Directed by Adrian Lyne, the movie tells the story of a New York City art gallery employee, Elizabeth (Basinger), as she falls into a tumultuous and intense love affair with a Wall Street broker, John (Rourke).

The plot unfolds as Elizabeth meets John when he purchases an overpriced painting at the art gallery where she works. They soon begin a relationship that is emotionally intense, sexually daring, and often surprisingly cruel.

The film takes place in a gritty and somewhat dangerous version of Manhattan, where the two main characters inhabit a world of art galleries, underground clubs, and abandoned warehouses. John takes Elizabeth on a dizzying tour of the city's most exciting and dangerous locations, including sleazy dive bars, seedy hotels, and deserted piers.

The movie features numerous scenes of graphic sexuality, as well as depictions of various BDSM activities, such as bondage, spanking, and submission. These elements, combined with the film's tone of emotional and psychological manipulation, have led many critics to describe it as more of a psychological thriller than a traditional romance.

As the relationship between John and Elizabeth intensifies, the power dynamic between them becomes increasingly unbalanced. John becomes increasingly demanding and manipulative, pushing Elizabeth to the brink of her emotional and psychological limits.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth begins to realize that despite her deep feelings for John, he is a fundamentally damaged and self-destructive person. She becomes desperate to escape from the cycle of pleasure and pain that characterizes their relationship, but finds it difficult to break free.

Throughout the film, the two main characters navigate their complex and deeply dysfunctional relationship, as they struggle to come to terms with their own emotional baggage and desires. The story ultimately culminates in a dramatic and emotionally charged ending, where Elizabeth finally confronts the harsh reality of her own emotional vulnerabilities and the damage that John has inflicted upon her.

Despite the controversy and criticism that the film received upon its release, Nine and a Half Weeks has gone on to become a cult classic of the erotic drama genre. Its vivid depiction of sexuality, stunning cinematography, and memorable performances by Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger have made it a beloved and enduring film, with a legacy that continues to inspire and rivet audiences more than thirty years after its initial release.