Big thanks to Iceland Review for the article on “Fáðu Já”, and bigger thanks to the people who made the film for (a) making it (b) providing versions with subtitles in other languages. 

A few days ago I overheard my young-teen daughter and  a group of her friends, a mix of straight, gay, and bi, discussing some sex issues amongst themselves, and while they weren’t stupid they were pretty confused and seeking answers.  So when I saw the article in I.R. I watched the film, and chortled and snorted my happy way through.  When my daughter came home, I started it again and when she wanted to know what in the world I was watching, I said, “Well... since you ask...” and played it over for her.  She nearly died of laughter when in the opening sequence the kid, desperately pretending the condom is gum, popped it in his mouth.  She plopped herself in a chair and watched the whole thing.  After a thoughtful pause while the credits rolled she finally said,

“I wish they’d show this sort of thing in American schools.” I asked her if she had specific reasons why. 

“Because it’s funny.... and they talk about actual sex instead of made-up stuff... and people in this country need to know what consent is!... and because they show some people who aren’t straight.  My gay and bi friends never see anything about themselves that isn’t porn, and that sucks.” 

Inelegant but heartfelt, and a door-opener to some other conversations.  I do wish we Americans could grasp that honesty and not talking-down to kids are the way to go.

So thank you again for alerting your readers to this.

Katharine Kroeber, Rockland, MA, U.S.A.