The Erectionman

Director Michael Schaap, Submarine/ The Netherlands, 2009, 52’

Film director Michael Schaap is over forty and it’s high time he try the magic blue pill – Viagra. After a two-week long stretch of lots of sex, he has to think about the side-effects – the psychological addiction for which there was no warning in the medicine description. Equipped with a healthy humour, Schaap reaches out to others for their experiences with Viagra, and heads to the manufacturer to express his displeasure. The film explores masculinity, fears and our modern-day reliance on artificial stimulants.

Viagra began selling its product on March 27, 1998, first to heart and artery patients, but thanks to the side-effects the blue pills became the first ever drug for treating erectile dysfunction. Already in the first year a million prescriptions for Viagra were handed out for a total value of more than a billion dollars. Even the Vatican has given its blessing to this drug, stressing its benefit in serving to better family relations.

Film trailer: http://theerectionman.submarine.nl/trailer