Gorgeous fetish fashion and extreme S&M sex distinguish John Stagliano's two "Fashionistas Safado" movies. Originally conceived as a single work but divided into sequential four-hour-plus epics, this is a 6-disc set including four standard-def DVDs and two music CDs. It feature the entire film - now 8 hours 40 minutes, the length of four or five conventional movies - in addition to an elaborate 3-hour DVD of extras and a color booklet of movie photography with the director's new liner notes.^lt;br^gt;
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Stagliano says, "As pretentious as this sounds, I think of 'Safado' as my masterpiece." Indeed, the movies went on to win nine AVN Awards including Best Director for Stagliano, Best Group Sex Scene and Best Art Direction. ^lt;br^gt;
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Perhaps the movie's themes are more relevant than ever. "Witness the artistic expression of mainstream superstar Rihanna," notes Stagliano, referring to the video for her chart-topping "S&M" single. It was recently re-categorized into the restricted area on YouTube, which landed the singer on the cover of the April 14 issue of Rolling Stone. "The idea of S&M, that some people choose to experience pain in sex play, is intriguing to most humans. 'Safado' simply goes further than what is allowed in polite society. The idea in art is a proven success. It appeals to the most basic of human instincts: the struggle for survival," Stagliano states. ^lt;br^gt;
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"Fashionistas Safado" delivers stunning performances by such XXX superstars as Rocco Siffredi, Belladonna, Melissa Lauren, Katsuni, Jenna Haze, Gianna, Annette Schwarz and Nacho Vidal. Perhaps the movie's biggest sensation is the nasty hard-core debut of a precocious 18-year-old soon to cross over to mainstream stardom. Says Stagliano, "Sasha Grey threw herself into this rough sex orgy with abandon. Her first sex scene became the topic of discussion throughout the industry." ^lt;br^gt;
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The movie's rich textures ' striking fetish fashion, acrobatic aerialists and dancers from Stagliano's "Fashionistas" stage show, edgy S&M in European sex clubs and some of the most relentless hard-core carnality ever filmed ' look even more vivid on high-definition Blu-Ray discs. The extravagant DVD of extras articulates the director's mission with three hours of revealing behind-the-scenes footage and commentary by Stagliano, Grey, Siffredi and Lauren.
