Pleasure is her greatest obsession.
Sex and alienation play out marvelously in this intense, hypnotizing, and offbeat drama set in New York. Karen, a strong-willed businesswoman, lives alone and rarely gets in touch with her college-age son. She harbors very peculiar tastes in sex, which involve strangers only: Karen picks up men in the street, pretends to be a prostitute, and seeks out masochistic experiences through online dating sites. At one point, she pushes her obsession too far... Desire in New York is as much a film about an uncontrollable addiction as it is an unabashed exploration of sensuality. It defies easy classifications and challenges mainstream notions associated with female sexuality. Its bold imagery, riveting black-and-white cinematography, and spellbinding soundtrack will make it linger in your memory long after you’ve left the cinema. - Liva Petersone