I was recently involved in an online discussion about prostitution - despite never having visited one or knowingly talked to anyone in this line of work.
People can't get their ideas straight about the subject. There is societies apparent contempt for the profession (mixed with great interest).
Then there is the idea that the nature of the work is necessarily going to ruin a woman's emotional world. Of course - there are a number of other things that could ruin someone's life - the profession's link with drugs, the contempt of the world, the uneasy interactions with the police. Is it the job itself or the associated life that is so hard?
Just once in a while someone like Belle du Jour speaks - usually as anonymously as possible - about actually enjoying the job. They know exactly what people's attitudes are going to be if they own up to having enjoyed it... So it takes some courage to say.
But when discussing paid sex-work, the question always comes up: what if your mother, sister or daughter were a prostitute? All these questions are worth looking into, yet you'll seldom see them explored in such a good film.
Slight spoiler: ---------------
The 'twist' - some claim to have seen this coming a mile off (have you noticed there's often a film buff who claims to have "guessed the twist"?) I saw it clearly only a short while before all was revealed - as the client's plan took shape - it was very moving, as is the moment when he finally gains Naomi's trust
People can't get their ideas straight about the subject. There is societies apparent contempt for the profession (mixed with great interest).
Then there is the idea that the nature of the work is necessarily going to ruin a woman's emotional world. Of course - there are a number of other things that could ruin someone's life - the profession's link with drugs, the contempt of the world, the uneasy interactions with the police. Is it the job itself or the associated life that is so hard?
Just once in a while someone like Belle du Jour speaks - usually as anonymously as possible - about actually enjoying the job. They know exactly what people's attitudes are going to be if they own up to having enjoyed it... So it takes some courage to say.
But when discussing paid sex-work, the question always comes up: what if your mother, sister or daughter were a prostitute? All these questions are worth looking into, yet you'll seldom see them explored in such a good film.
Slight spoiler: ---------------
The 'twist' - some claim to have seen this coming a mile off (have you noticed there's often a film buff who claims to have "guessed the twist"?) I saw it clearly only a short while before all was revealed - as the client's plan took shape - it was very moving, as is the moment when he finally gains Naomi's trust