There's little doubt after watching Caveh Zahedi's comedic film "I Am a Sex Addict" that the title is no exaggeration.
The filmmaker, playing himself as he replays his life onscreen, reveals he has spent much of his life as the willing hostage of his obsessions, which compelled him to troll for prostitutes and indulge his all-consuming fetishes.
The subject matter is often sad and twisted and could easily play as tragedy. Wives, girlfriends and career opportunities fell by the wayside as Zahedi pursued the siren call of his sordid whims. Yet, Zahedi injects such whimsy into the material, spinning his tale flippantly as though he's describing a fishing trip, that the only suitable classification for the film is comedy.
"I Am a Sex Addict" manages to make you laugh at Zahedi, who makes constant fun of himself as he retraces several years of prostitute-fixated oblivion. With the self-aware, self-critical manner of Daniel Stern on TV's "The Wonder Years," Zahedi recounts the copious rationalizations that torpedoed relationship after relationship. It's like you're peeking inside a man's regretful memories.
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Zahedi eloquently recounts how his fixation on prostitutes started innocently and mutated into a way of life. As he continued to indulge the fetish, it grew stronger and moved to a more central role in his life, edging out anything else that mattered before. The filmmaker intercuts past footage, photographs and voice recordings with staged scenes with actors meant to fill in the missing parts.
Most appealing among the devices Zahedi uses to muse on his past are chalkboard scrawls of "solutions" to his problem. The ever-incompetent fixes involve constant self-gratification, increased contact with prostitutes, "one last time" declarations and, most disturbingly, a plan to fulfill a fantasy in which he adds violence to the equation.
Zahedi is a quirky independent who has often put himself in front of the camera for experimental personal docs. Most are underground and hard to find. He's made films about going to Las Vegas, tripping on acid and painful courtship.
Fans of the film "Waking Life" will remember him from the "Holy Moment" scene in which he morphs into clouds.
As intelligent and comedically resourceful as he is, Zahedi has some drawbacks as a performer. His voice is whiny and grating, and his neurotic demeanor recalls Woody Allen at his least appealing. From time to time, Zahedi seems to lack the ability to distinguish between the genuinely interesting parts of his story and the overbearing minutiae that make parts of an otherwise smooth tale lumber along.
Despite the shortcomings, "I Am a Sex Addict" soars with rare comic insight. Zahedi pulls off the difficult trick of making you despise, pity and admire him. You get the feeling it's been much the same for the women in his life.
review
I Am a Sex Addict
HHH
Rated: Not rated
Cast: Caveh Zahedi, Rebecca Lord, Emily Morse, Amanda Henderson
Director: Caveh Zahedi
Family call: Strictly adult material
Running time: 98 minutes
Opens Friday at: The Loft
