Arts and Culture

Sedona Film Fest presents ‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite’ Dec. 22-28

A timely, cautionary tale of what too often happens to women who dare speak out

December 14, 2023No Comments

1976’s The Hite Report liberated the female orgasm by revealing private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Shere Hite's findings rocked the establishment, presaged current conversations about gender and sexuality, and made her a target of the patriarchy.

1976’s The Hite Report liberated the female orgasm by revealing private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Shere Hite's findings rocked the establishment, presaged current conversations about gender and sexuality, and made her a target of the patriarchy.

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Disappearance of Shere Hite” showing Dec. 22-28 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre.

The Hite Report, a groundbreaking study of the intimate experiences of women, remains one of the bestselling books of all time since its publication in 1976. Drawn from anonymous survey responses, the book challenged restrictive conceptions of sex and opened a dialogue in popular culture around women’s pleasure.

1976’s The Hite Report liberated the female orgasm by revealing private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Shere Hite's findings rocked the establishment, presaged current conversations about gender and sexuality, and made her a target of the patriarchy. — 1976’s The Hite Report liberated the female orgasm by revealing private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Shere Hite’s findings rocked the establishment, presaged current conversations about gender and sexuality, and made her a target of the patriarchy.

Its charismatic author, Shere Hite, a feminist sex researcher and former model, became the public messenger of women’s secret confessions. With each subsequent bestseller, she engaged television titans in unforgettably explicit debates about sexuality while suffering the backlash her controversial findings provoked. But few remember Shere Hite today. What led to her erasure?

Digging into exclusive archives, as well as Hite’s personal journals and the original survey responses, filmmaker Nicole Newnham transports viewers back to a time of great societal transformation around sexuality. Her revelatory portrait is a rediscovery of a pioneer who has had an unmistakable influence on current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy, as well as a timely, cautionary tale of what too often happens to women who dare speak out.

“Incredibly fascinating and touching portrait of a lost moment in time that was not so long ago.” — Chicago Reader

“You are not alone if you simply can’t stop asking yourself, ‘How on earth did I not know about this woman before?’” — Variety

“Combines the delights of an eccentric character study with the tension of a thrilling investigation.” — IndieWire

“The Disappearance of Shere Hite” will be shown at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre Dec. 22-28. Showtimes will be Friday, Saturday and Tuesday, Dec. 22, 23 and 26 at 3:30 p.m.; and Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 27 and 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

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