Dossier Prostitution (1970)

 

A French documentary about prostitution.   Not much to say in terms of story or action, but Jean-Claude Roy's cinematography is often beautiful and striking. 

Much like the Schulmädchen-Report films, the film takes a faux documentary approach in order to show pretty girls naked.  However, this film is a bit more sincere.

We start in the nineteenth century where Thérèse (Édith Ploquin) is taken in to a whorehouse. 

Thérèse is smacked around by Marc Dudicourt

Thérèse is dead inside, and just does what she needs to do to survive.

Thérèse; still dead inside.

Now we return to present day where a street is lined with prostitutes.

A man chooses his whore by the number on her shoe.

We get a glimpse into the life of a whore.

A customer takes his pick from a black book of whores.

He inspects his selections.

A call-girl (France Durin)

This prostitute (Jacky Foucault) plays dirty...

She takes a ride on the back of her pimp's motorcycle

Then pretends to be a damsel in distress on the side of the road.

The men swoop in and rob the good samaritan. 

Iréne (Nadia Samir)

Iréne meets a gentleman and has a wonderful evening with him.

But he knows Iréne is a prostitute.  So he kisses her on the head, leaves her some cash and departs.  Leaving Iréne crying in bed.  Such is the lonely life of the whore.

Monique (Katia Tchenko)

Her colleague Mariette (Valérie Boisgel)

They get ready for the day of fucking strangers.

Monique and Mariette go to a bar and wait for a john to pick them up.

The police bust the joint; Monique and Mariette are arrested

An interview with another whore.

Another prostitute begins her transaction of money for sex.

But it's an empty life.

She derives no pleasure from sex.

Now we meet Sylvia (Liane Marelli)

A girl is chased down and abducted

The sex traffickers take her in.

The last part has normal women chosen at random, and they are asked if they'll show their boobs for money.  I doubt this part is real, but it feels real.

 It ends with the statement: "We will not be able to declare these girls lost for the family and for society until everything has been done to try to tear them from their miserable condition." THE END

---

The dry documentary approach is excessively boring, but Jean-Claude Roy's style is brilliant.  You could watch with the sound off and it would probably be an improvement; you'd take in the stunning visuals without the distracting "documentary" blather.

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆5/10