Madame Claude

Trying to think what the point of this film is. Is it purely biographical? Probably. Are there any cinematic values? Probably not. An environment of prostitution would lend itself to some character development. There is none. Okay, there may be some other redeeming features. An interesting storyline, some surprises and plot twists. Nope. Normal acting and direction, nothing superb. This film doesn't rise above mediocrity.

It's a different movie and not too much happens. It meanders along from start to finish with little change.

It's watchable, but it's not for everyone.

Madame Claude (2021), dir. Sylvie Verheyde. I am not sure why this Netflix film has such a low rating at imdb. I found it to be, if not especially original, at least a plausible depiction of the world's oldest profession. There are quite a few films about brothels and madames, and it's true that this one does not chart any new territory with regard to the profession itself. Nonetheless, I found the acting decent and liked that the film was based on a true story and followed the entire trajectory of the life of Madame Claude.

A drama based on real events.

It is about the life of a pimp woman in France and everything that goes into running such a business.

Quality.

Slightly parsimonious.

The time spectacularly recreated.

Good costumes and hairstyles.

Music instead.

Well-managed nude and sexual scenes, far from looking grotesque, add the touch to the film.

Talk about corruption, the prostitution business, what you have to do to survive in it. Of loneliness, love and what guides a person to get there.

The voice-over gives the film agility to get to know the character better.

Good performances.

Safety pin.

It carries the tone of French movies.

Editing does not help at times and it becomes somewhat confusing.

Fernande Grudet's life is a fascinating story but the film falls short of making it compelling. The main focus is on the requisites of the sex sex trade: how she manages her burgeoning business and the growing power and influence that go with it. It does little to dive into the interesting characters that inhabit her story.

Given the story's potential, one could imagine dramatic encounters with the police and her influential clients. But when such opportunities arise, the encounters happen mostly matter-of-factly except for that memorable meeting of Sidonie and her father in the restaurant where he got his comeuppance.