My review of Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You at The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast had me review the new Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You. I'm working on expanding the topics I write about so I don't get pigeonholed as only a sex writer, because that's important to me personally and vital if I'm going to continue to have a career as a freelance writer, plus I have plenty of other interests so am always thankful for editors who let me write about those too. Was grateful I was able to see this at its world premiere in San Francisco and hope it screens in more cities soon.

Go see male circumcision documentary Partly Private

Tonight at 10:45, Wednesday at 4:30, and Friday night at 8:30, Danae Elon's documentary about male circumcision, Partly Private, is showing as part of the Tribeca Film Festival. I highly recommend it. It documents Elon and her husband's decision about whether or not to circumcise their son, then facing the same question as she's pregnant again and shooting.

She gets arrested, visits a baby fair, travels to England and investigates the royal family's circumcision rites (there's a rumored "royal mohel"), visit Turkey, examines an artificial foreskin, attends an anti-circumcision rally, and much more. I learned that sometimes the mohel places alcohol in his mouth, then places it on the baby's just-cut penis (they don't show any actual circumcisions in the film, but they do show this). It's fascinating and I hope to do something further on it.

Here's the trailer, more clips on the official site:



IndieWire interview with director Danae Elon

NY1 on Partly Private