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In a recent BBC interview, the director Steve McQueen was challenged that unlike other substance abuse such as drug or alcohol, where the addict suffers cravings and withdrawal symptoms, sex cannot be defined as an addiction per se, to which McQueen replied: “Anything that rules ones life destructively where everything else becomes secondary and ruins his/her life can be defined as an addiction” (January 19th 2012).
As with his previous powerful and bold film Hunger, McQueen's unflinching style does not shy away from the brutal reality of the grittiest issues the human condition presents us with.
Shame is a film about sex addiction, self destruction, and shattered attachment. New Yorker, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a sleek looking likeable yuppie who seemingly leads a successful career. However, his addiction to pornography, casual sex, paid sex, and compulsive masturbation increasingly takes over his life. As with all addictions, the release of his addiction provides him with a means that he can avoid a real relationship. The only real relationship Brandon has is with his emotionally troubled sister Sissy (Carry Mulligan), who, unlike her apparently self-controlled brother, is overwhelmed by her needs and impulsive. She has no boundaries and is self-harming. Their failed attempts to connect with each other, seems to trigger them both and brings out the worst in each other.
Shame and humiliation deeply buried under guilt, is at the forefront of addiction. Shame means that you feel bad for what or who you actually are. Shame sometimes results from being used in an unacceptable or degrading manner such as the shame about feeling physical excitement while one is being molested. The tormented addict's tendency to defend against shame is to numb