SIRENS (1994)

Anthony Campion (played by the charming Hugh Grant) is a minister who, accompanied by his wife Estella, finds himself at the center of a church mission to convince an artist to remove shocking, sexually charged artwork from an exhibition in Australia. The couple find themselves stranded at the eccentric household of the artist Norman Lindsay (played by the dashing Sam Neill).

This ends up being a pleasant place to be stranded. The roads leading there are cut along the side of eucalyptus-covered cliffs. The property itself is beautifully landscaped, with elegant fountains and statues dotting the yard. A wraparound porch gives the grand home a welcoming appearance. Close to the property is a cool and refreshing-looking watering hole. Amidst this paradise, snakes slither around calling to mind the story of Adam and Eve.

Also making the Lindsay estate home attractive are three barefoot beauties who pose for Mr. Lindsay’s paintings and serve as his muses. These gorgeous “sirens” are Sheela (Elle “The Body” McPherson), Giddy (a young Portia de Rossi) and Pru. This salacious atmosphere raises several questions that make for lively debates between the Campions and the Lindsay household: Are sexually liberated women the downfall of man? Is the naked human body something to be ashamed of? Is sex and nudity in art sinful?

In this sensual atmosphere, temptation lurks around every corner, especially for Estella. Sex seems to be all around her except in her own bedroom. On one eventful day, Estella catches Devlin, the blind and hunky handyman, masturbating on a rock in the sun. Fleeing his growling dog, she ends up joining “the sirens” in a trip to the local bar where they then proceed to join a group of boys in some roughhousing. The ladies then go for a swim, after which Estella joins Pru and Sheela as they playfully run their hands across Giddy’s entire body, starting at her thighs and working their way up to her breasts and her face. Later, “the sirens” take Estella to spy on Devlin and end up tying her to a tree near his tent. With a dramatic vista spread out behind them, Devlin raises goosebumps as he releases Estella and leaves us fantasizing about what might happen next.

This movie gets my sensual stamp of approval because sexual temptation and exploration triumphs over stodgy old conventions. It explores the excitement of reaching out beyond a comfort zone to experience new sensations and feelings. Not only did Estella experience an awakening while staying with the Lindsays and “the sirens," she managed to carry some of their sensuality back to reality with her. In addition to inspiring skinny dipping, Sirens also inspires its audience to explore the unlimited canvas of our own imaginations.