LOS ANGELES—Residents of Porn Valley, take note. Now playing in two locations in Southern California is Nelly, a narrative feature about the sex worker turned international literary star.
Isabelle Fortier, more widely known as Nelly Arcan, was a sex worker in Montreal who wrote a semi-autobiographical novel, Putain (Whore) in 2001. An exposé of her life as a high-priced escort, the book garnered critical and media success and sold over 30,000 copies in its first run. Arcan went on to write three other books that featured self-destruction and feminine beauty as obsessive themes—and that self-destructiveness eventually led to her death in 2009 by suicide, four days after submitting the last edits to her fourth book.
Directed by Canadian filmmaker Anne Émond and released by Cinema Libre Studio, Nelly opened in a 25-screen release in Canada and then played in New York City. This week it is screening in Los Angeles at Laemmle’s Royal Theater and in Pasadena at the Playhouse 7.
The film examines the life experiences that impacted Arcan’s choice to become a sex worker, weaving different times and influences that occurred during various stages of growing up. The common thread throughout the whole movie is a lifetime of depression and difficulties with body image. The film frequently jumps between different stages (the way to keep track of them are her hairstyles and by the younger actress portraying Nelly through her teens). Yes, even as a high-priced escort, her demons present themselves frequently during this tense drama.
Pictured, Mylene Mackay as Nelly Arcan (photos courtesy Cinema Libre Studio)
Deeply portrayed by Canadian actress Mylène Mackay, Nelly finds it increasingly challenging to continue the balance of layers in her life as an escort, best-selling author, well-known celebrity and jealous lover of her boyfriend.
The depictions of Nelly during her various sex acts with johns rings truthful and clear. We experience her pain with having to put up with clients’ requests, see through her artificial admiration of her clients in order to make them feel better, and often feel her well-hidden emotions throughout her sex work. Honestly portraying sex workers’ experiences are rarely so well reflected as in Nelly.
Subtly directed by Émond and beautifully filmed, Nelly is produced by fellow Canadian Nicole Robert. In French with English subtitles, the film offers a glimpse into the troubled soul of Arcan. In her lifetime, she presented an important book to the world for them to understand the complex realities of sex workers. Members of the adult industry owe it to her to see this film.
For more details and nearby screenings, go to CinemaLibreStudio.com/nelly.
Top, Mylene Mackay with director Anne Emond on the set of Nelly. Bottom, Nelly (Mackay) with a client (photos courtesy Cinema Libre Studio)
