DVD review: The Sessions

A 38-year-old poet (John Hawkes), paralysed by childhood polio, employs a patient "sex surrogate" (Helen Hunt) to take his virginity.

This humbling true story could easily have been turned into worthy, self-important awards-bait, but instead The Sessions is a refreshingly sardonic, simply shot comedy-drama. It's tremendously moving in its matter-of-fact candour, but it's still a modest film – despite all the nudity.