Mia Hansen-Løve Says Intimacy Coordinators 'Aren't Necessary': I'd Rather Not Have 'Virtue Police' On Set

It's hard to think of a profession in the film industry that has garnered more attention in the past year than intimacy coordinators. As Hollywood continues to take incremental steps to make sets more inclusive, hiring experts to choreograph sex scenes and making sure all performers are okay with what they're going to do has become a popular trend. The prevalence of voices calling for more sex scenes only adds to the demand for the job.

But for every artist who praises the experience of working with an intimacy coordinator, there seems to be another who criticizes the practice. Debates about the delicate balance between performer safety and artistic spontaneity don't seem to end anytime soon, and it's hard to find a Hollywood figure who doesn't have a strong opinion on the matter.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Mia Hansen-Løve offered her take on the controversial issue. The 'Bergman Island' and 'One Fine Morning' director counts herself firmly in the camp of filmmakers who believe intimacy coordinators unnecessarily hamper the creative process on set.

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"No, I don't. Until I have to, I won't use them," Hansen-Løve said when asked if she had worked with intimacy coordinators "I don't think I need it. I'm extremely sensitive and pay a lot of attention to the respect actors should have for each other. I've never had any problems." I've never forced any actor to do anything. Everything is discussed and happens very smoothly. So for me, intimacy coordinators are not necessary. If I was forced to have some kind virtue police on set, I would prefer not to film these scenes. I understand why some people may feel reassured, but this is a far cry from the experience of my own film sets."

While Hansen-Løve's comments likely place her outside the mainstream Hollywood consensus on intimacy coordinators, her views align with those of many of her fellow European arthouse filmmakers. When Gaspar Noé was asked about the recent prevalence of intimacy coordinators in an interview with IndieWire, the "Irreversible" director gave a candid answer. "That doesn't exist in France."

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