A successful prostitute attempts to fashion a homeless man into her ideal pimp in this unconventional, darkly humorous French drama. Marie (Anouk Grinberg) has no real need for a pimp, being a self-reliant, unabashed woman so fond of her job as a hooker that she is able to convince strangers to try it themselves. Indeed, her financial success allows her to take care of Jeannot (Gérard Lanvin), an impoverished vagrant whom she finds on the streets. She provides him with a bath and a place to sleep, and the two rapidly become lovers. Nevertheless, Marie is soon imploring Jeannot to act as her pimp, begging him to slap her around and take her money. He takes to his new role and soon decides to talk a manicurist (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) into becoming the next member of his stable. The newcomer's inexperience proves to be his downfall, however, as the manicurist lands him in trouble with the law. Director Bertrand Blier attempts to create a controversial look at sexuality by combining black comedy with scenes of smoky sensuality, though many critics found the central premise and the presentation of Marie's contradictory, masochistic character too unconvincing for the film to be fully successful. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Mathieu Kassovitz - The first client; Roger Carel - le passant au chapeau; Aurore Clément - la femme du monde; Jean-Philippe Ecoffey; Jacques Francois - Second client; Bernard Fresson - Personnel director; Michel Galabru - Third client; Ginette Garcin - la dame au châle; Dr. Robert Hirsch - Monsieur Hervé; Bernard Le Coq - Inspector Marvier; Jean-Pierre Léaud - Monsieur Claude; Jean-Pierre Darroussin - Gilberte, the client; Jacques Gamblin - Fourth client; Dominique Valadie - Gilberte; Dominique Lollia - Mélissa; Maguy Dussauchoy - la boulangère
Credit
Gerard Moulevrier - Casting, Christian Gasc - Costume Designer, Bertrand Blier - Director, Claudine Merlin - Editor, Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki - Composer (Music Score), Nguyen Thi - Makeup, Georges Glon - Production Designer, Willy Holt - Production Designer, Pierre Lhomme - Cinematographer, Alain Sarde - Producer, Jacques Leguillon - Set Designer, Pierre Gamet - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Bertault - Sound/Sound Designer, Bertrand Blier - Dialogue Writer, Bertrand Blier - Screenwriter, Hubert Engammare - Screenwriter, Barry White - Musical Performer, Claude Albouze - Production Director
