Fifty Shades Of Controversy

F-M Area Reacts To Risque Movie

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Fifty Shades of Grey is hours away from opening as the debate rages on: is the movie too risqué? The movie based on the best-selling book continues to cause controversy.

People around the world are already protesting the movie and its themes of bondage and domination. They say the themes could promote violence. But several people in the F-M area think otherwise.

Candy Skauge is a big fan of the erotic novel and knows people who partake in the sadomasochistic lifestyle which plays a big role in the book.

“It’s being shown in such a bad connotation and it really isn’t,” says Skauge.

She says that despite the controversy, there is a big difference between abuse and BDSM.

“It’s something that’s a choice. This isn’t like the guy that comes home pissed off about something and starts beating the crap out of his family. That’s abuse.”

Vanessa Jordre has read the books several times and already has her movie ticket. She shares the same opinion.

“If it was the other way around like she didn’t agree to it, it would be something completely different,” Jordre says.

The film adaptation of the best-selling book has inspired social media campaigns like #50dollarsnot50shades. It promotes donating $50 to a women’s shelter instead of seeing the movie.

“I personally prefer not to watch R-rated movies especially for sexual content,” says Laura Trude of West Fargo.

But one local marriage counselor, who has read the book, doesn’t agree with the stir.

“It’s not so much what people are doing in their relationship but it’s how each personal feels about what they’re doing in the relationship,” says licensed marriage and family therapist Karissa Schmoll.

And for people like Candy, the books and now the movie are just a way to get an inside look into a mysterious lifestyle.

“It’s something that I had no idea that the lifestyle existed. No clue. But it made me curious and it’s made a lot of people curious,” Skauge says.

The movie website Fandango says “Fifty Shades of Grey” has become the fastest pre-selling R-rated movie in it’s history. Local theaters are already experiencing a high volume of ticket sales. In fact, according to Marcus Theaters, their first showing in Fargo is nearly sold out.