Portret van Verlangen

What does desire mean when detached from the traditional male perspective? What does sexual representation look like when the body is not framed as an object but as a storyteller? This summer, Rialto presents Portret van Verlangen, a provocative film series centered on sexuality, intimacy, and corporeality, viewed through a different lens. From July 15 to August 24, screenings will take place every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday at Rialto De Pijp and Rialto VU.

The program was inspired by the much-discussed release of Babygirl by Halina Reijn, starring Nicole Kidman. The film, which explores a woman whose sexuality clashes with societal expectations, sparked global debate: feminist, provocative, or problematic? In the U.S., the conversation focused on the orgasm gap, while at Rialto, the film prompted reflection: what makes an erotic film successful—and who decides that? This question led to an internal study among staff—from box office employees to programmers. The titles that emerged from this process now form a film program that explores desire from female, queer, and non-binary perspectives.

Films that intrigue, confuse, and surprise

The program includes screenings of The Handmaiden by Park Chan-wook, a smoldering psychological thriller where erotic tension and deception go hand in hand; Secretary by Steven Shainberg, which delves into an unconventional BDSM relationship and the thin line between trauma and self-determination; and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande by Sophie Hyde, in which a retired teacher (Emma Thompson) embarks on a journey to discover her sexual self.

In Raw by Julia Ducournau (known for Titane), cannibalism becomes a metaphor for sexual awakening and hunger. Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma subtly and sensually portrays a love between two women, while also questioning the gaze through which we view women. need by emerging Dutch talent Jonnah Bron and When the Body Says Yes by melanie bonajo form a powerful double bill exploring corporeality, boundaries, and intimacy—both poetic and confrontational.

All screenings will be with Dutch subtitles.