La Dérobade

Based on a book by a French ex-prostitute, this is the extremely unpleasant story of a woman (Miou-Miou) dominated, despised and frequently beaten up by her pimp (played by the director). Perhaps seen in a French social context there might be an excuse to make for the film: it is in part set up to attack their very vicious system of pimps. However, it remains fetishistic, voyeuristic and racist, with its arty camera lingering over bodies, kinky outfits, and scenes of stomach-turning brutality perpetrated for the most part by swarthy men.