While I have not seen Summer of '42, it is clear from your description that nudity and explicit sex was not necessary to convey what was happening. In fact, the imagination of the viewer is far better than vision at conveying what is happening. I imagine that the sex scene (under the sheets) was indeed developmental of both the character (a 15 year old virgin) and the story (he indeed had sex), but clearly as well, the sex did not need to be explicit and I would imagine could have conveyed just as well if the bed is in shadow, no action is seen but the sounds still play.

I do have a problem with the premise of this film simply because portrayal of teenagers having sex is simply wrong to me (and potentially illegal if anyone could be consistent in enforcing laws). If a private citizen creates a film portraying teenage sex, it is considered child pornography. If Universal Studios, a private company, does it, it is art. There seems to be a horrible disconnect here. In fact, there are many cases of teenage actors/actresses appearing nude and even appearing nude in a sexual context in Hollywood movies and yet the same exact film, if produced by an individual, would be illegal. Every state in the United States has a law which makes sex illegal under a certain age. For most states, that age is 18 years. Apparently, however, films like these rarely portray the prosecution of those adults who commit statutory rape in these films. They often ignore the marital infidelity (see Bridges of Madison County). In fact, these films often portray such events in a positive light (e.g. coming of age, mutual attraction, etc.). Further, we even have films where the parents of underage actresses are authorizing nude scenes (American Beauty); if a parent, as a private citizen, authorized such a scene for his neighbor, we would be disgusted and that citizen and the neighbor would be prosecuted (rightfully so), yet when it is done by a film studio it is somehow ok. Is it any wonder why children are having sex so young and why more adults are having sex with children than ever before? We all know it is wrong, but yet entertainment companies portray it so positively and it "feels so good".

-- Jeff

__________________
"Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." --Ronald Reagan