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Set in 1917, this threadbare story of prostitutes in the famous Storyville district of New Orleans is nevertheless compelling thanks to its unusual -- and unusually frank -- focus on 12-year-old Violet Marr (Brooke Shields), who becomes the mild obsession of a dandified photographer (Keith Carradine). Even so, it's only a couple rungs up the ladder from pure prurience, and that because, technically, it's a fine film: everything from the costumes, sets, and props to the fine acting from Shields, only 12 herself, and Susan Sarandon as her working girl mom to Malle's direction looks authentic. But Malle is really directing another, better film, one in which his long takes are filled with the feeling this over-romanticized film lacks. Never has being a 12-year-old prostitute looked so non-threatening and homey. Controversial, of course, due to Shields' nude scenes. It isn't porn, but it's worth noting that no porn director could do what Malle does here and get away with it.
Set in 1917, this threadbare story of prostitutes in the famous Storyville district of New Orleans is nevertheless compelling thanks to its unusual -- and unusually frank -- focus on 12-year-old Violet Marr (Brooke Shields), who becomes the mild obsession of a dandified photographer (Keith Carradine). Even so, it's only a couple rungs up the ladder from pure prurience, and that because, technically, it's a fine film: everything from the costumes, sets, and props to the fine acting from Shields, only 12 herself, and Susan Sarandon as her working girl mom to Malle's direction looks authentic. But Malle is really directing another, better film, one in which his long takes are filled with the feeling this over-romanticized film lacks. Never has being a 12-year-old prostitute looked so non-threatening and homey. Controversial, of course, due to Shields' nude scenes. It isn't porn, but it's worth noting that no porn director could do what Malle does here and get away with it.
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