Talking About Sex: A Documentary That Dares to Be Honest
Directed by Alex Liu, a gay Asian American science journalist and filmmaker, A Sexplanation takes on some of society’s most avoided yet essential topics — sex, sex education, sexuality, and pornography.
What makes this documentary stand out is not just its content but its courage. Liu uses his own personal story as a thread, asking the kinds of questions many of us have silently carried all our lives — especially those who grew up in times or cultures where sex was simply not discussed. With warmth, humor, and curiosity, he travels across the United States interviewing sex educators, psychologists, neuroscientists, clergy members, and even representatives from the Catholic Church, each offering a unique perspective on how we learn — and often mislearn — about sex.
The result is not a lecture but a conversation. Liu invites viewers to think, not react; to understand, not judge. The inclusion of the Catholic Church’s perspective is particularly striking — not portrayed as an antagonist, but as part of the broader human struggle to reconcile faith, morality, and desire.
As someone who grew up in an era when the mere mention of the word “sex” could make a room fall silent, I found this openness both refreshing and overdue. Liu reminded me that honest conversation is not a threat to morality — it’s a step toward wisdom. Too often, silence breeds confusion and shame, while thoughtful discussion can lead to understanding and healing.
In a world saturated with pornography and misinformation, A Sexplanation feels like a gentle but firm wake-up call. It asks us to move beyond fear and curiosity alone, and to approach sexuality as part of our shared humanity — full of tenderness, vulnerability, and the need for connection.
When the credits rolled, I found myself reflecting on how far we’ve come. For my generation, discussions about sex were cloaked in secrecy. We learned more from whispers than from teachers. Watching this film, I realized that the younger generation is rewriting that story — treating sexuality not as something shameful or forbidden, but as a natural, complex part of being human.
And perhaps that’s the deeper message of this film: every generation gets a chance to continue the conversation.Ours may have begun in silence, but it doesn’t have to end that way.
Final Thought
As I grow older, I’ve come to appreciate how learning never really ends. Whether it’s through books, films, or simple conversations, there’s always more to understand about being human — about love, fear, forgiveness, and yes, even sex. Aging doesn’t close the mind; it opens it, if we let it.
Watching A Sexplanation reminded me that curiosity is ageless. We may not have had these conversations in our youth, but we can still have them now — with honesty, humility, and a touch of grace.
Because the more we talk about what it means to be human, the more fully we live.
Meanwhile,
From Wikipedia: A Sexplanation is a 2021 American documentary film directed by and starring Alex Liu, a Chinese American independent filmmaker. The film, which explores issues concerning sexual stigma, shame, pleasure, and pride in the context of debates over comprehensive sex education, follows Liu as he travels the United States and Canada to interview researchers, therapists, educators, authors, political leaders, and activists, including those at the Kinsey Institute, Planned Parenthood, and San Francisco Sex Information.
Critical response
A Sexplanation was a New York Times Critic's Pick with writer Claire Shaffer saying, "Liu lends a frankness and sensitivity to the topic that would make “A Sexplanation” suitable to be shown in a classroom..."
Phuong Le of The Guardian wrote, "Alex Liu makes for a charismatic guide to the sexual landscape of America, with an engaging curiosity to help demystify the birds and the bees... it sparkles with an engaging curiosity."
Noel Murray from The Los Angeles Times described the film as "an entertaining movie with admirable intentions, pushing the audience to rethink their presumptions about pleasure."
Randy Myers of The Mercury News wrote, "[Liu] makes a charming guide ... Breezy and engaging." KQED arts critic Michael Fox said "A Sexplanation is an irreverent, informative and disarming road trip ... and deserves to be disseminated as widely as possible." Pat Mullen of POV Magazine wrote the movie was "Fun, informative, and sex-positive ... A Sexplanation unabashedly puts the "d" in doc."
Gary Kramer from Salon reviewed the film saying, "Alex Liu's smart, lively, and thoughtful documentary about sex education — both his in particular and America's in general. Liu's goal is to talk honestly and even vulnerably, about sex, and he covers topics ranging from masturbation and pornography to taboo fantasies to demystify sex and the shame often associated with it. It is through his discussions with his own parents, as well as sex educators and researchers — and even a Catholic priest — that he normalizes dialogue about a topic most folks would prefer not to discuss. 'A Sexplanation' is certainly a conversation starter, and like the numerous interviewees, the ingratiating Liu treats the topic respectfully, and with a healthy curiosity, which is why it is so gratifying."
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 27 reviews.
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