Lucid TV: Oral Fix starring Florence Thomassin by Katerina Jebb

Beautiful French actress Florence Thomassin stars in Oral Fix, an imaginary ad for cigarettes. In Freudian psychoanalysis, the term oral stage denotes the psychosexual development stage where the mouth of the infant is the primary erogenous zone. Taking this concept one step further to a transparent conclusion of why smoking is pleasurable, Jebb delivers the satire wrapped up in a 70s style made for television movie. The actress poses for the viewer on an unmade bed, a fur coat thrown aside, her glossy and full lips exhaling smoke repeatedly in a flagrant and open sexual invitation. The scenario implies that the male has just departed, finding the woman alone to savour her moment of post coital solitude. At one with herself, one imagines that she is liberated and fulfilled, however, the question subliminally posited; is it the nicotine inhalation and the oral practice of smoking that has enabled her to achieve this state of voluptuous pleasure. The final voiceover breathily suggests “go ahead pleasure yourself over and over again” the slogan on the packet reads “smoking is sexy” as Thomassin laughs ironically through multiple superimposed images of herself and the rising smoke. This ad is a first degree mockery of smoking and does not seek in any way or form to glamorize the act of smoking . As the cigarette packet in Europe now states in prominent black on white square and bold letters: Smoking is highly addictive, don’t start. Cigarette smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. ISO yields of toxics in cigarette: Tar – Nicotin – Carbon monoxide Don’t go there.

Starring Florence Thomassin

Directed by Katerina Jebb

Edited by Benjamin Ricart at Premiere Heure, Paris

Assisted by Franck Mura and Marius Crowne

Music – C’est ci bon, 1978 by Madleen Kane

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