Sex. Lust. Insanity. Philip Kaufman’s “Quills” clearly emphasizes these three elements in its joyride through the mind of the Marquis de Sade.Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, “Quills” sets out to explore the later years of one of the world`s most controversial writers. The film takes us to Clarenton Asylum, the Marquis’ home when he died, where freedom of expression is considered therapeutic, unless it might be considered sexual or perverse. Based on both fact and fiction, “Quills” aims to explore the complex mind of a tortured soul as well as the true meaning of art and its consequences. Screenwriter Doug Wright weaves an intrinsically detailed tale so full of lust and sexuality it could make a romance novelist blush. The film touches a fine line of being blatantly aware of its sexual nature without exploiting it. It seeks to tell a story rather than preach a lesson. This is evident in the way emotion and subplot occur at every reel. While Geoffrey Rush is intoxicating in his portrayal of de Sade, baring mind and soul (and just about everything else as well) to get to the heart of what this man was in history, he is not the only character to stir things up. Joaquin Phoenix illuminates the screen as the Abbe Coulmier, the central caretaker of Clarenton Asylum. Phoenix exudes an energy that is almost tiring to watch, seeking to provide a religious counterpart to the Marquis’ perverse undertones. Phoenix conveys extraordinary depth in a character he truly creates, rather than simply interprets from a page. His energy is shared by Kate Winslet (Madeleine), who aptly portrays a chambermaid drawn by the Marquis’ writing. Winslet’s character succeeds in getting them to the outside world to be illegally published. Winslet and Phoenix have a chemistry that seems to collide on screen, tearing them apart and drawing them back together. While “Quills” is one dramatic and powerful scene after another, the standout, especially later in the film, is their struggle to deny their feelings for each other. “Quills” has an arty flair as well as great writing and acting. These qualities make it seem accessible and at times complex. It succeeds at the rare feat of having a lot going on while in the end working out neatly. The combination of abstract thought, a love story and about twenty other agendas and subplots works beautifully with the story of a man who was considered both insane and astoundingly creative, even writing in his own blood to express himself.The important thing in “Quills” is that it achieves true originality in its portrayal of de Sade. You might have to see it twice to truly capture its purpose because the sexual nature is played upon in a way that might shock a moviegoer accustomed to more subtle innuendo. In the end, though, you leave the theater focusing not on the film`s daring context, but rather on its creativity and brilliant acting.