Sex et perestroika

Sex et perestroika a 1990 French film with elements of eroticism, which through the eyes of French filmmakers shows the life of Soviet people and their attitude towards sexuality.

Plot
The film contains many reportage scenes that reflect such characteristic features of life in Moscow during the era of perestroika, such as rallies in support of Yeltsin, huge queues at the first McDonald's, rock concerts, informal youth groups, black marketeers, etc.

In April 1990, a French film crew came to Moscow looking for an actress to shoot an erotic film. Directors Francis and Boris conduct auditions and screen tests for young VGIK actresses: each girl is asked whether she has watched erotic films, whether she is ready to star in such a film, she is also asked to undress and walk across the stage. Boris is dissatisfied with the hotel, conditions and potential actresses, believing that so far he cannot find suitable candidates.

Meanwhile, one of the Russian assistant directors introduces Boris to Alena, who knows French well and works in a modeling agency. With her help, Boris finds new candidates for filming.

Cast

 * François Juffat as Boris, French director
 * Francis Leroi as Francis, French director
 * Alyona Masurenkova as Alyona
 * Evgeniya Kryukova as Zhenya
 * Natalya Shchukina as Natalie
 * Ekaterina Inovenkova as bride
 * Sergey Bezdushny as Sergey
 * Olga Koposova as girl in a taxi
 * Viktor Tsoi as cameo

Critical response
According to film expert Sergey Kudryavtsev, Leroy and Juffa initially filmed the seventh part of the erotic series “Emmanuelle” in Moscow. Having looked at the material, they, however, “rejected this film with naked Soviet girls  but nevertheless, with Gallic wit, they got out of a sticky situation by releasing a caustic documentary film “Sex and Perestroika” about morals in the USSR, using episodes from the failed “Emmanuelle 7”. In his rating, Kudryavtsev rated this film 3.5 points out of 10.