Why do American movies have such a difficult time dealing with sex? “Is there a fear of dealing with grown-up sexuality in movies? Absolutely. Movies are intentionally sexy without being sexual, because puerile teasing is a kind of salesmanship. The sad corollary is the preponderance of violence in American films. A foreigner judging the United States by its films would think Americans spend more time running from exploding fireballs than having sex. The reluctance to depict explicit sexuality in mainstream films might be attributed to the times, but major directors quietly acknowledge their interest in making films about sex and its consequences.”