Could this thing be more French? A fetish object in and of itself, thanks to the hushed formalism of the BDSM acts it depicts, The Ceremony investigates the family of soumises that orbits around Jeanne de Berg, a stately dom whose power is venerated by all involved.

Eroticism is an art form with its own unsung geniuses, they insist. As for the diminutive octogenarian Mme. de Berg, she’s otherwise known as the widow of Alain Robbe-Grillet, eminence perv of the Académie française, which adds some gravity (and awesome archival footage) to her life’s work.

If it all comes off as a very entertaining blast of parisien hot air, a sequence involving a submissive forced to dance for her miniature queen of domination might give you a surprise case of the vapours. Vancity, May 7 (9:15 p.m.) and 8 (3 p.m.)