Watch Sex and Zen

Sex and Zen is a Hong Kong erotic comedy film directed by Michael Mak and starring Lawrence Ng, Amy Yip, and Kent Cheng. The movie is known for its explicit sexual content and desirous themes, which revolve around a young scholar's pursuit of both intellectual and carnal satisfaction. The movie is set in ancient China, where a young man named Wei Yangsheng, who is studying to become a scholar, feels unfulfilled in his sexual life after his marriage to a beautiful wife. He turns to books to quench his curiosities, and soon becomes obsessed with the tales and illustrations of an erotic book titled The Carnal Prayer Mat.

In his pursuit of learning more about sex, Wei Yangsheng meets a prostitute named Lan Mei, who becomes his mentor and teaches him the art of lovemaking. With her help and guidance, Wei learns how to please women and earn their trust. Despite the taboo surrounding prostitution in China at the time, Lan teaches Wei that women are just as entitled to pleasure as men.

As Wei becomes more skilled in the art of sex, he realizes that he is still unsatisfied in his search for the ultimate pleasure. He hears about a woman named Black Pearl who is known to possess a magical sexual skill, and he becomes obsessed with finding her. In his quest to find her, Wei becomes embroiled in a web of dangerous liaisons and deceitful characters.

The movie is filled with sexual content, nudity, and graphic scenes that explore the various pleasures and kinks that individuals indulge in. However, it also touches on the themes of love and trust, with Wei's relationship with Lan Mei highlighting the importance of communication and mutual understanding in intimate relationships.

Lawrence Ng gives a compelling performance as Wei Yangsheng, playing the young scholar with finesse and depth. Amy Yip stands out as Lan Mei, delivering a captivating performance as the experienced courtesan who takes Wei under her wing. The chemistry between the two characters is palpable, and their scenes together are both steamy and heartfelt.

Kent Cheng plays the role of Black Pearl's husband, who is a cruel and abusive man with his own sexual kinks. He adds an element of danger to the movie, with his character's obsession with his wife's sexual abilities leading him to commit heinous acts.

Overall, Sex and Zen is a movie that pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable in mainstream cinema. It explores the various facets of human sexuality, while also providing a commentary on societal norms and expectations regarding sex. Its explicit content may not be for everyone, but for those who are open to it, it's a movie that is worth watching.

Sex and Zen is a 1993 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 58.