Jane Campion’s most overtly sexual film is also her most misunderstood. Based on the erotic thriller by Susanna Moore, who cowrote the script with Campion, In the Cut thematically aligns with Campion’s body of work, though stylistically it diverges in its bold use of saturated colors and abstracted cinematography. Starring Meg Ryan as a teacher who becomes involved with a brash policeman (Mark Ruffalo), In the Cut gazes unflinchingly at the dark corners of desire.

Director: Jane Campion. Cast: Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Damici. 2003. 119 minutes. USA/Australia. Color. English. 35mm. 

All film screenings of You Oughta Know: The Films of Jane Campion are available here.