Wetlands (2013): Girls are Gross 

I’m from Germany, and I complete forgot about this book. But I remember it was a huge controversial thing and everyone was hating on it because it’s “so gross”. It’s nice to see a video about the other side of the book.

The beginning toilet seat scene got me, It’s engraved in my head by how nasty it it. I cant, I had to pause and cry a bit cuz of the possible infections and diseases she could get. 😭😭

I definitely don't have mental capacity to watch this movie, but I am disgusted by comedies with gross stuff starring men as well. However the existence of this movie is a step in the right direction, I will just support it from the distance lmao

Anal fissures suuuuuuuuuuuuck. I had an appointment to get mine checked out and was ridiculously embarrassed when an attractive med student came in to ask some questions. I couldn't even look this dude in the eye. I felt so gross. Seeing the clip where Helen has her nurse take pictures made me realize I'm not gross; I have a medical issue that needs treatment ffs. Sorry if my comment is slightly off topic lol. I gotta watch this!

I remember seeing this as a teen on Netflix back when they had good independent films. It was kinda groundbreaking to me as a teen who was starting to see the BS behind the shame of having body hair, periods, ect ect and ive recently been thinking about it and couldn’t remember the name. Thank you for this! I also thought her vagina essence perfume pheromones theory was kind of genius.

Weirdly this book really helped me overcome my crippling OCD, like some kind of exposure therapy lmao

I’m a male so I can’t really relate to women’s problems but I still enjoyed the movie a lot despite the gross stuff I wish we could have more media that embraces female anatomy and not like it’s some taboo topic. Guys can talk about what ever gross thing and use it as a joke while women can’t even talk about shaving unless they’d be shamed.

Not gonna lie, some of the things described upset my stomach, but the concept is definitely compelling. I do enjoy bluntness in media, but it clashes with how easily I get grossed out, so that's something I should probably work on. Also, kinda nuts this is an actual thing, but getting caught in an accident when your panties aren't spotless was also my grandma's fear. It was passed down to my mom, who has worked in a hospital and has first-hand experience in that nobody cares about the state of your underwear when you're dying, but is still irrationally concerned about it.

This analysis is so well done!! The part where you talked about men being disgusting in film and it just being passed off as normal/ funny was just perfect. I can't stand public toilets so that first part made me pause the video and only come back to it two days later lmfao but I'm glad I kept thinking about it because it brought me back here to see the rest of the analysis. Thank you for the amazing insight!

I’m a girl who gets easily grossed out by stuff like this, so I won’t be checking this out, but thanks for telling me about it!

i did gag but it's unfair that men get to be just as gross in movies and not get shit for it.

I remember watching this movie, but I don’t remember it being gross firstly. I thought it was heartbreaking and triumphant and not triumphant at all

omg the self harm in this movie when you said she wanted to reopen her wound and the lengths she goes to... wow :(

I read the book about a year after it came out, it made me a huge fan of charlotte roche. incredibly vulnerable and strong. i never watched the movie though, i think i cannot get over actually seeing the scenes. the one where she reopened her wound was heartbreaking close to desperation. the way she described it in the book was exactly how it feels like when you dive into a trauma wound, in an erratic try to scratch an endless itch until it starts bleeding.

I've never heard of this movie but i think it's fascinating. I'm a fairly disgusting person myself as it were but aside from that I'm also morbidly fascinated with the ideas of disgust and the barriers about it that are constructed around womanhood. This sounds like a great suggestion. I love to read but haven't really found any novels that I love and I think this sounds like one I would really like. Do you have any other suggestions?

I was so scared this video was going to be a hate video about the movie, i so freaking love the movie, i watched it when i was 16 and it changed my life not ironically. The imense pressure for woman to be similar to a plastic perfect doll is still not really talked about enough and when i watched that movie i was shocked, but it has put a huge spotlight right into the untalked stuff. As a 16 year old the movie was really important for me to reflect about the silent taboos on womans private areas, normal body fluids, forced maternity, misoginy and the freedom of talking about normal stuff like having hemorroyds and stained underwear. I hate when people get stuck on the "gross" aspect of the movie and refuse to reflect about what it is showing us. I really really love this movie. Thank you for not bashing it.

When I watched Fleabag (the play, not the series), I couldn't help but finde some parallels to the book/movie Wetlands. Maybe it's just because a woman is talking very openly about herself and her sexlife, or because over 5 years were between watching both productions.

I remember watching this movie when it came out. It was touted as completely disgusting and unwatchable. But I found it to be a revelation. I was going through the first few years of puberty and could feel my body changing. The change in my physiology didn't faze me much, but I was horrified by the smells and secretions I was starting to produce. I was constantly checking the smell between my legs and worrying if other people could smell it too. But this movie opened my eyes and made me feel more secure in myself. I stopped having this anxiety around my natural smell and embraced it instead. It was incredibly freeing.

I met this girl who doesn't shave her arm hair and wears tank tops and spaghetti straps and just doesn't care , I was so shocked and actually amazed by her confidence, it was very attractive almost it made it seem as though her arm pit hair wasn't disgusting as its so often portrayed. And she didn't care about her armpit hair like I did. So I decided to stop shaving, not only because I saw her doing it with so much confidence, but it began to take a toll on me. I'd get cuts and ingrown hairs that leave scars and it would sting and hurt. Body hair on a woman should be normalized, we shouldn't have to be ashamed of something men so proudly show off to the world. Do what you think is right for your body.

I never heard of this movie, and I consider myself quite a clean-freak, so even just watching this analysis was a lot for my heart, but I do support the concept! Human bodies do be kinda gross and women, as well as nobody, shouldn't be shamed for natural things that society considers "gross", and I'm talking about things like periods and body hair and stuff like this. I can't wrap my head around the fact some men are not even aware of women having these things. Edit: I just realized I've made a typo that contradicted my entire intention of the comment I'm sorry- It's fixed now-

I first watched Wetlands years ago at a film festival in Melbourne when I was not much older than Helen's character... it really made an impression on me, I have thought about it a lot since but haven't met many people who are familiar with the film or book. Excellent work on your analysis and thank you so much for choosing this film and these topics to explore :)

I really enjoy your content! I can’t believe I’d forgotten about this film, it’s so impactful. Which is weird to say, like it shouldn’t be “brave” to just do what male protagonists have been shown doing in films for generations. Humans are humans, with curiosities and fetishes and strange habits, they should be explored and discussed! Thank you for such a wonderful video, very happy you covered this film💖

I never was able to watch this movie, the trailer alone grossed me so much , that I am still traumatized hahah I am also from Germany and only seeing this video gross the shit out me 😭

Your Video is a hidden gem love it !!!! I live in Germany and experienced "wetlands" premiere in Germany. I was around 10 at that time. The trailers where everywhere and everyone I know found the movie disgusting and disturbing and I need to say that I also didn't understand the movie and found it gross... but seeing it now in your video and explaining the message.. makes me wanna watch it or read the book. Thank you

I remember seeing this movie. Me and my 2 friends saw it on netflix and I was so grossed out. But also very intrigued. And its the type of movie that has never left my mind.

Important conclusion! I read the book ten years ago and very quickly saw the tragic in it, not really being distracted by the 'vulgar'?! parts. Ya, women are only humans too. Experimenting and healing a lot of disgusting conditioning (;

just wanna say, dying via vegetable penetration, was in the tv show 1000 ways to die, that were based on resl deaths (that i know of) soo dont try using a vegetable at home, 🌝 anyways man this movie was real gross, ugh

i remember watching this on netflix years ago out of curiosity. i loved it. as a young girl with divorced parents and a lot of shame about my body and hygiene, it felt so liberating to see things on screen that i thought only i had experienced and was ashamed about. however i forgot all about the movie until now! i didn't even know it was based on a book. it's now on my tbr list. thank you so much for reviewing this movie! 🥰

The movie is so much deeper and emotional than it's first appearence makes it look. Plus the dreamy yet filthy atmosphere makes it the Berlin Amelie Poulain

I used to watch this movie a lot when I was younger and depressed because I craved female friendship and thought Helen and her friends relationship was so special. Obviously it's pretty nasty at some points but there was something about Helen that was so sweet and tender.

That’s was a wholesome essay on the movie, thx! and in general, this channel is a gem in terms of subjects - whether it’s a movie, an artist, etc - and storytelling. been introduced to some awesome stuff through its content. keep up 🙌🏼

You just became my new favorite channel. I love everything from the topic to the editing. Keep up the good work! ❤❤

I watched this movie many years ago and felt so weird by watching. But now through your video this really made me reflect why and I also rethink some stuff. Great content!

i saw this when it came out in the theatre. it was an unforgettable experience. a very powerful response to the status quo.

Hey! I'm from Germany and I'm a huge fan of Charlotte Roche and her books. I'm glad that you reviewed the movie and the book. In the movie there things that couldn't be done in the movie. And I'm glad that you see it for what it really is: a very sad story. Great video!

This movie was an integral part of my teen years, thank you for giving it some much needed attentiuon.

i remember the trailer the most, i got uncomfortable whenever it popped up especially in front of others and family, but i was secretly curious about. Fortunately or unfortunately i was too young to watch it in cinema(i was 8 at release). I don't remember a lot of hate, only slightly disgusted looks by family members, but that skateboarding scene in a hospital gown always stuck with me haha

As a teengae girl I can say I initially reacted negatively to the main character but then I really looked into and realised I reacted negatively because I saw parts of myself in Helen. She represents everything girls are told we can't be and everything that we are.

Honestly this movie isnt gross, its just the truth 😂 all those fears we have of a camera in our room or someone watching us? This is literally what they will see. And amen to her, if you are grossed out about human fluids then you shouldn't be doing the dirty girlies

I was pretty young when i stumbled acrosst this movie on netflix and honestly I don't remember being grossed out at all, even now these topics dont disgust me. Instead i remember feeling almost inspired lol

This is one of the few movies I cannot watch. Not because of the gross nature of it, but just the conflicting pain the character feels, that is all too real to me.

Im glad you made this video because i would have NOT been able to sit through this movie without throwing up. You explained it well

That was disgustingly beautiful

I’m still gagging like seriously from watching this. I had the same reflex while watching the start of Everything Everywhere All At Once. I’m a woman who definitely agrees human bodily functions shouldn’t be treated with stigma, but unless you and another consenting adult are agreed to swap and share that with each other it’s just not something I enjoy seeing. Normalize this blank thing has got to chill on that one.

I'm loving the use of Saturday Night Live clips in this video

I was pretty intrigued by this and thought I could handle it because well, gross stuff is reality but then you got to the part where she injures herself on the bed pedal and no... No. I can't. Lol.

“Women don’t have hair there”. 😅🤣🤣. Why do you think that is? We are brainwashed to wax or shave it. I once used some really bad wax beads (do not use). If I didn’t hear them enough, they didn’t work. When I did heat them enough, it burnt my skin off. Now I just use wax strips premade. They don’t work as well, but I won’t burn myself

I remember reading this book years ago. Just happen to come across it. I thought it was disgusting and hilarious. The move skeeved me out though… the part where she goes underground and wipes her pum on the toilet 🤮😂

Loovvved this movie as a teenager!! Really helped me feel comfortable in my own gross teenage girl body. I didn't really feel disturbed by any of the content bc it felt like it hit so close to home

One of my favorite films. Def gross and filthy in places, but surprisingly touching and heartwarming as well. And beautifully filmed. Just completely amazing.

First time I watched this I was 14 in my basement on Netflix. It definitely had gross moments, but I even then I really appreciated the “why” of it. It never just felt nasty for the sake of being nasty

My grandma talked about this film for days after the seance. Curious to see what's behind it.

I read the book soon after it was published and saw the film in the cinema and loved both sooo much they helped me with my own trauma and shame

Just found your channel and I'm loving your content! The nicher films I've seen you looked into all convinced me into wanting to watch them whole!

One of my all time favourite books. I love embracing how much of a gross girl I am. Thank you for taking this seriously!

The Human Centipide franchise be like: Finally, a worthy opponent.

I get the message and all but damn..... it's really fuccin gross ....I don't feel liberated more like "when does this movie end ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ"

The book was so scandalous back then

god, I’m so glad I found this channel.

This movie could have been less disgusting and still get the point across that women aren't allowed to not smell of flowers, even things like discussing periods something we can't control are controversial

Is shaving really a choice if you're socially pressured to do it? na...

As interested as I am in this, as a “germaphobe,” like an “I‘d rather suffer through the day than go into a public restroom,” germaphobe, I saw the first clip and had to just listen from there lol.

Omg I watched this film when I was a teenager. I didn't think any one outside Germany would know about it. You're awesome :D

I'm never going to watch this film because I just don't like nasty stuff and seeing something that could make someone get infections, diseases, and/or go into septic shock tends to put me off. But I do agree that girls should be allowed to be gross in movies. We have a lot of movies with guys being gross all the time, they were like the leading of comedies even (though tbh this film doesn't look like a comedy to me). I know I do a lot of nasty stuff and I have girl friends who do gross stuff too. And the body hair, I would love to let my pits grow because I don't want to waste my money but it makes my sweat worse and I do love the smoothness lol

Read the book as someone on my undergrad degree recommended it several times. Never bothered me at all 😂

my exact face a minute and a half into the video 😦😦😦

I remember when I watched this movie as a 19 year old I was so intrigued by the story bc I have mommy issues like Helen lol

I remember watching this omfg it felt like a weird dream 😭

I read the book when i was in high school back in 2011/12 ish, and it really changed my view on my own body. I dont' think I would've been the same person today if I hadn't. Thanks for making this video essay about it

I just got a tattoo of the bandaid on Helens knee cause I love this movie so much

i watched this movie around age 13 and i still think about it all the time lmao

I saw this movie when I was probably 15 or 16 and I loved it! I think I've seen it around 4 times. The only people I talked to who had seen it, however, were guys and they thought it was gross (obvi) but I was irritated that they seemed to completely miss the point. All they could see was "gross" when there is so much to be taken from the story. I thought "You morons! How can you be so distracted by the shocking elements that you miss all the meaning?"

I GOT A DOMINOS COMMERCIAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS 😬😰

one of my fav movies for a long time, so happy to see someone talk about it

LOVE YOUR CHANNEL

If this movie was initially made in the United States, it would receive either an R rating or the rating that no one wants: the NC-17 rating.

i cant handle any gross out humour/topics in movies, male or female focused , especially fluid related - but i appreciate the vision and effort.

I agree wholeheartedly with the message that women shouldn’t be be held to such a high standard, but did they really have to portray that with scenes of her playing with her own shit and period blood? I feel like it’s gratuitous at that point, and doesn’t really add anything other than shock value, which I don’t like

I absolutly love this movie, i watched it as a teen, i'm glad someone talks about It

I JUST FOUND THIS VIDEO AND THANK YOU!!!!! I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH ITS SO UNDERRATED i loved this video

Maybe I’m just terrible and also used to the same films with men doing “gross” things. I don’t see too much gross especially with it all just being a book and film. Now Pink Flamingos.. that was real dog doo so yeah knowing facts changes everything I think

I remember this movie being shown during film class, I then became curious and watched the rest of the movie, it became so disturbing that at some point I didn't even flinch anymore.

Wow never heard of this book + movie but loved the analysis on it! Such a well made video, just subscribed! 💕

Great view I really like your voice it's soothing. Your reviews are brilliant keep up the great work .👍🏽 ❤️❤️❤️

I remember this film when it was on Netflix. There are some scenes I can never forget….

awesome video, super well put together :D

i watched this movie when i was like 12 and for a long time i thought it was just like a weird dream i had but now i found out its an actual movie that exists that i watched lol

After 1 minute and 19 i just gagged, I’m weak Edit. Still gagged after 3 minutes but managed to get trough the whole thing, it’s a very sweet ending and a very interesting film, I have a pretty weak stomach so I don’t think I will watch it, but I still enjoied the video

I remember watching a german review of it back then and the guy gave the movie a 9.5/10. The only bad thing about the film is, that the actress didn't speak in her dialect and it took a small thing from the authenticity away... But still an amazing "coming of age" movie

13:59 when I first heard about this movie, the first thing I thought about was that I love it shows a an attractive female being gross or vulgar.

I LOVE your content. So well made and SO entertaining

I'm from Germany and I was a teenager when this movie came out. I remember that everyone just talked about how disgusting it was. because of that I unfortunately never watched it but I probably would have never understood it at that age

I remember watching her eating spinach and cheese pizza with a beer and still can get over that, I want to make that combo so bad after like 5 years. Really liked te movie, I didnt know there was a book. I loved her confident with her sexuality.

I have problems with the closing thougts of the video. While I think there is definatly a point to be made about how diffrently society judges gross behaviour of men and women, I think this movie is not a good example for that. Male grossness, in movies, is mostly shown for comedy and it is not played in any way serious. Wetlands is a very real feeling film. It handles serious topics and does not show the grossness for laughts. I honestly believe if this movie had a male character as the protagonist, I still would be disgusted.

Some things require purge with fire, this is one of these things.

I heard the book is worse and even more graphic and gross, I want it now 😂 and I gotta watch the movie.

okay that’s sad some men think women have no hair down there

I dont think she ran from her problems to a dude. I think she confronted and dealt with her trauma while at the hospital, and, at the very least, began understanding and healing it. Also, Robin is not just "a dude", its a dude that likes her for who she is- disgusting, emotional, charismatic- AND he was there for her in some of the most grossest, embarrassing moments of her life (clearly the line between him doing his job and him being there for her gets blurred). So, i think she just finds a healthy relationship and happiness.

Sorry this is going to be a long comment 😅 I've never seen one of your videos or anything but this popped up on my recommended and I literally gasped because I have never known anyone else who's seen this movie, and I always wondered if I was the only person to watch this outside of Germany lol. I watched it years ago around 2014 or 2015 when it had recently come out and it shocked and amazed me at the same time. I am non-binary, use they/them pronouns, and I wasn't born a woman but I heavily relate to a lot of the themes in this film. Things like bodily fluids, exploring sexuality as well as sensuality and learning about yourself in regards to body functions weren't necessarily encouraged in my upbringing. Along with other factors, as a result, I grew up thinking that I shouldn't talk about things like that even with other boys at the time. So when boys my age would make gross jokes or do things that are typically expected of them, I didn't agree with it or it made me feel uncomfortable which also made me an easy target since I "wasn't like the other boys". It made having conversations about intimacy difficult for me and I didn't talk about these things for a long time. Now as an adult I feel differently and am more confident in myself and how I feel, but as a kid sometimes you don't realize how much things actually affected you until later. I am nowhere near as extreme as Helen, but seeing her do things like that in the film helped me realize that pretty much everything in society is socially constructed. What is deemed as acceptable for men and women is socially constructed, gender itself is socially constructed and so for her to not fit into that box of femininity is refreshing in a way. It's a reminder that you have to live your life for you, explore things for you and learn about you. I am disappointed in the ending though, however I think it's realistic and that's why it's disappointing. If I was in Helen's shoes, I probably would've done the same thing at the end tbh. I myself have ran to men in the past thinking that they would provide answers or solutions and I know other people who have done the same thing. But overall I think this film is important and if you have the stomach to watch it, you definitely should watch it in its entirety. I think it's one of those films that seems so shockingly gross and out of pocket that it turns people away, but if you give it the chance it deserves you might learn something about yourself. In general I love films that are not the typical films you'd see at the local theater. There is definitely a place for media like this and I don't think people should criminalize self discovery only because it's different that what you consider to be self discovery.

A friend gave me the book in 2012 when I was in year 8 in Germany. I loved it back then (because I was a teen and got off on the filth of it all xD). The film is also great, but I still prefer the book