Year of the Carnivore: A Canadian Comedy

Year of the Carnivore is a Canadian comedy that treats sexual inexperience with humour and some tenderness. It was the first feature written and directed by Sook-Yin Lee, a multi-disciplinary artist known to Canadian audiences for her work in broadcasting, music and short film.

Its central idea is whether a person can learn to be a better partner, and the film answers in a way that questions the premise itself.

The premise

The protagonist works as a store detective at a supermarket and is in love with a friend. After one awkward encounter, the friend tells her that he is not interested in a relationship and suggests she gain more experience first. Both characters carry their own hang-ups about closeness.

Determined to improve, she sets off on a string of escapades. Episodes follow her through a series of awkward, comic misadventures in everyday settings.

The filmmaker's view of vulnerability

In interviews, the director said that love and satisfying sex tend to come from allowing oneself to be vulnerable. She called the constant effort to get better at everything, from careers to friendships to sex, something of an illusion.

She also made clear that she does not see herself as an expert. She admitted to being unsure what makes someone a good lover, though she believed that nobody can move in that direction without first learning what makes them happy.

Self-knowledge as a starting point

She described a personal exercise of getting acquainted with her own feelings by closing the curtains, playing a sensual record and dancing alone. According to her, that kind of private attention helped her face her fears about intimacy.

A recurring theme in her comments is that people often devote energy to meeting the wishes of others and neglect their own. In her view, a clearer sense of personal pleasure and limits is the sturdier foundation for connecting with someone else.

A familiar name in Canadian media

The director has long been a recognizable figure in the country's cultural scene. She has worked as a television and radio host, released music and made short films. She has also acted in the independent film Shortbus.

Details of the film's release and critical reception are not covered here, and they may have changed since this overview was written.