9 Songs

Released in 2004, 9 Songs is a Brutish musical film that combined music with a hard-hitting storyline. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, the film is a contemporary, ’in your face’ romantic flick. The name of the film has been derived from the fact that the movie is interspersed with nine songs being played by eight rock bands. 9 Songs’ main characters include a climatologist called Matt, played by Kieran O’Brien and an American exchange student named Lisa, this role enacted by Margo Stilley.

The entire movie is a reflection of the smouldering relationship between Matt and Lisa. After first meeting in London's Brixton Academy, the duo discover a common love for music. The two lovers start attending rock shows. During the course of the film, Matt listens to a total of 9 songs performed live on stage at different point of time, either alone or in the company of Lisa.

Laced with graphic sex scenes between the lead stars, 9 Songs received controversial reviews across the globe. The British Board of Film Classification released the film with an ’18’ certificate, while Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification rendered the film an X rating, later being changed to an R rating. With an unrated release in the US, 9 Songs could well be one of the most sexually explicit mainstream movies in Britain. Movie downloads and clips of the film are in demand.