Written by: François Ozo
Directed by: François Ozo
Starring: Marine Vacth, Pailhas, Frédéric Pier
Rated: -[R]
Watch the trailer
Plot
A teen girl leads a secret life as a call girl, with little interest in the encounters or the money.
Verdict
This movie doesn't have a point because the main character doesn't have a reason to become a prostitute. While it doesn't glamorize prostitution like Pretty Woman (1990), if that's the main message it's just not enough. The movie is uncomfortable just because the character (not the actress) is underage, not to mention that her clients are past middle age.
Skip it.
Review
It's weird in that a twenty something actress plays a sexualized seventeen year old. It never becomes less uncomfortable. Prostitution isn't glamorous like Pretty Woman. Isabelle client's are middle aged or older men.
Is this a product of French culture? This isn't a movie for teens, despite being about a teen. Isabelle has sex for the first time but doesn't enjoy it as much as she expected. The movie just jump cuts to a different season and shes a prostitute? How'd she make that leap? With the internet you can do anything, of course.
I don't know the point of the movie. Is it to show that prostitution isn't glamorous? Isabelle isn't motivated by sex or money. In therapy she talks about exploring and experimenting, but the boredom on her face is palpable, causing that explanation to fall short. If she just wanted to explore, I'm sure she could find a teen boy her own age. It's not about money because we never see anything she wants to buy.
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| Young and Beautiful - Shallow and hollow. |
She gets a few on the job lessons like always demand money up front and don't hook where you live when she sees a client in town.
She showers a lot, which could be symbolic or just part of the job. The movie feels exploitative because there is no reason provided as to why she does this. Isabelle's secret life is eventually revealed and her parents are shocked.
This is ultimately hollow and unfulfilling. An attempt at a heartfelt scene is made at the end, but Isabelle is an enigma to a fault. I kept wondering (and checking) how much longer until this movie ended.
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