Aahana Swrup
‘Dying for Sex‘ is a comedy-drama show that takes the audience on a whirlwind journey ripe with a spectrum of human emotions. It revolves around Molly, a woman in her 40s who has just received a diagnosis of terminal cancer. This life-changing news compels the woman to take over the reins of her life and finally leave her loveless marriage to Steve, her husband, who views her more as his patient than his wife. As she prepares to face the last few months of her life, Molly makes the decision to do the one thing she has never been able to do so far in her life: explore her sexual desires.
Thus, in between difficult doctor’s appointments, she finds herself dipping her toes into the diverse world of kinky sex with strangers. On this journey of self-discovery through pleasure, Molly finds an indomitable support system in her best friend, Nikki. Although the same can’t be said about her estranged mother, Gail, their relationship eventually ends up on the mend. Thus, given the older woman’s influence over Molly’s story, one can’t help but grow intrigued about the possibility of her off-screen counterpart.
Gail is Partially Based on Molly Kochan’s Mother, Joan Siffert
‘Dying For Sex’ possesses rich roots in the real life of Molly Kochan, a woman who embarked on a journey of sexual discovery after a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2015. In the aftermath of her death, Nikki Boyer released a podcast titled ‘Dying For Sex,’ which recounted her best friend’s story through recorded conversations between them. Furthermore, Boyer went on to posthumously publish Kochan’s self-written memoir, ‘Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole,’ which went into detail about the woman’s life. Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock’s show bases itself on its namesake podcast, dramatizing Molly Kochan’s life and bringing it to the screen.
As the show translates Kochan’s real life into a dramedy about sexual liberty, self-discovery, and grief, it inevitably stacks up its narrative and characters over a layer of artistic freedom. For instance, a central plot point within the show—Molly’s apparently orgasm-less sex life was a fictionalization of the film. Therefore, even though Molly’s character and her storylines are based on the real Molly Kochan, they occasionally stray from the details of the latter’s life. The case of Gail’s character seems to be much the same. In the film, Gail is the protagonist’s estranged mother who lives in Vermont and is dating a goat farmer.
Gail’s character is defined by her previous addiction and crushing guilt over her daughter’s sexual assault when she was seven at the hands of the mother’s boyfriend. She’s constantly seeking absolution of her guilt through her daughter’s forgiveness, something which further strains their interpersonal relationship. Parts of this characterization evidently sport a partial basis in Joan Siffert, Kochan’s real-life mother. In her memoir, the latter recounts a similar incident of alleged sexual assault with Siffert’s boyfriend as her abuser. On the other hand, much like the on-screen mother, Kochan’s actual mother also remained by her bedside during the last of her days. Thus, even though ‘Dying For Sex’ adds some level of fictionality to Siffert’s on-screen counterpart—as evidenced by the change in name—the parallels between the two remain undeniable.
Joan Siffert Works as an Addiction Recovery Coach in New York
Joan Siffert was by Molly Kochan’s side when she passed away on March 8, 2019. She was accompanied by the latter’s father, Alex Kochan, her husband, Alexx Henry Ouanes, and her best friend, Nikki Boyer. In the aftermath, the woman was surrounded by her friends and family as she grieved her beloved daughter’s untimely death. Similarly, she also found some comfort in her beloved pet and foster dogs. Since then, Siffert’s world has continued to revolve around the various pawed pals that have made a home in her heart.
Siffert often shares photos and updates about her pets on social media. Her Instagram account also remains a place of loving remembrance of her daughter, whom she keeps alive in her memories. Likewise, the woman’s evident love for her family can also be seen through her social media presence. She often shares updates about her family, including young nieces and nephews. Meanwhile, in her professional life, Siffert works as a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach in New York, dedicated to helping others through tough times.
Read More: Dying for Sex: Is Dr Jerry Pankowitz Based on a Real Doctor?
