Flesh It Out: Let’s Visit The Celluloid Bordello

March 22, 2023
NAOMI LEROY

Let’s take a deep dive into how sex work is portrayed on film!

Have you ever noticed how ubiquitous sex workers are in mainstream movies? No? Maybe because they are so often relegated to being already dead once you see them on camera, or they are part of an off-camera plot line, because how can a character be sympathetic if they are a sex worker or patronize one? Sex workers including hookers, strippers, and call girls have often been relegated to cautionary tales, puerile fantasies, or the butt of an infinite number of tired and harmful “dead hooker” jokes from early silent films all the way to the present day.

The Celluloid Bordello, available at PinkLabel.tv is an award-winning 2021 documentary directed by Juliana Piccillo which aims to discuss sex workers on film with real sex workers --- pro dommes, escorts, pornstars and hustlers, past and present, and share what those folks think of their film portrayals and how they could be better as well as the impacts of that media on these people’s lives. Among those offering their opinions are Annie Sprinkle, David Henry Sterry, Juba Kalamka, and the late Carol Leigh aka Scarlot Harlot. It should go without saying that this film needs a content/trigger warning for some of the clips, but there, I said it!

We open with a bunch of clips from many films and eras all depicting sex workers, mostly but not all cis women, and then commentary from Piccillo and others about the fascination of cinema with sex workers who are at the same time fetishized and reviled by the stories that feature them. The next montage of clips depicts sex workers dying in tragic and violent ways. The experience of sex workers is very polarized on film--- either they end up somehow “rescued” from the life by a rich client or a religious experience, or they are desperately poor and/or addicted and meet a tragic end, no doubt brought about by their choice of work. When male sex workers are portrayed, some homophobia is sprinkled into the mix with straight men living the glamorous gigolo life and gay men getting addicted to drugs, becoming infected with HIV, or murdered. No one just does their work, makes their money, and lives life like a regular person.

Here’s where we hear from the real people and how they came into their sex work careers and this becomes a bit less of a depressing film at this point as the discussion goes into different portrayals such as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and different people’s perspectives on why they got into sex work and what they get out of it. I’ve got to admit, this movie has given me several ideas of movies I’d like to watch or rewatch.

Take a look at this film and reframe your thinking about sex workers. Show them the love and support they deserve as fellow human beings even if you don’t patronize them or approve of their lifestyle-- though, if you read Fleshbot and look at any kind of porn-- you’re patronizing adult, consensual, sex workers--- so get used it to and embrace it! If you're a creator of film, prose, or other media, think about how to portray sex workers in a better and more original way-- maybe talk to some for your research. If you engage a sex worker either online or in person, pay them for their efforts without begrudging or trying to evade it and tip well! Support reputable harm reduction organizations and decriminalization of sex work and vote for candidates who support it. Just do better!