Girlfriend Experience

I have very good friend who enjoy movies but they tend to enjoy watching a flick made in an established genre and following a familiar means of presentation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with knowing what you enjoy and seeking out films with a better than average chance of giving you your money’s worth. If this was all that was available then the art of cinema would never have the opportunity to expand and progress. For that to happen there has to be film makers willing to take a risk not only thinking out of the box but is able to completely ignore the existence of the box. This is the kind of imagination that typically can only be found in the world of independent film. With the pressures imposed by the financially motivated studio executives removed or at least significantly diminished the artistic aspects of movie making can prevail. Of course as is the case with any type of experimentation some efforts will fail to reach their potential no matter how honest the effort may be. To some extent this is the case with Steven Soderbergh’s latest opus ‘The Girlfriend Experience’. This auteur has built his career around his career around his unique cinematic sense of style and his offbeat fashion of storytelling but in this film just about every aspect is crafted to stir up controversy to some degree or another. From it camera use to subject matter and casting this film will spark debate. Now this can be a two edge sword for a film maker. Most would prefer the audience debate the founding themes of their work instead of concentrating on contrived elements highlighted by the media. When you create a movie concerned with sex and employ a professional in the adult entertainment world the media is bound to become fixated on that part of the production but if you can embrace the experimental natural of the film you are going to experience a gripping look at a portion of our society usually relegated to the dark shadows.

Steven Soderbergh is an extremely talented man who dares to create films that explore the covert aspects of human nature; particularly human interaction. He has his more mainstream work such as the star studded ‘Ocean eleven’ films but most film fans remember him for his breakout Indy movie ‘Sex, Lies, and Videotape’ or his later experimental film ‘ Full Frontal’. He has branched out with critical and commercial hits like ‘Traffic’ an ‘Erin Brockovich’ even dabbling in episodes for popular television dramas like Grey’s Anatomy’ one thing is clear; this eclectic director will never be confined to a single genre. in this experimental opus Soderbergh looks at one of the stranger types of relationships referred to as ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ while this does relate to services performed by a prostitute it is far removed from quick physical release obtained in some seedy motel room. The term refers to a service offered by some extremely high priced call girls were they will endeavor to emulate a girlfriend relationship with the client. One rationale forwarded here is this service is targeted at the ultra busy rising young executive who is far too busy to form and retain a real relationship Part of the subtext of this film is an indictment of disposable society. Anything that is needed or desired can easily be rented or purchased. This apparently has oozed it way down to include emotional intimacy. It also brought some of the recent political scandals such as the one involving New York State’s governor into a different light. He had been paying tens of thousands of dollars to a prostitute; perhaps more for an intimate emotional experience that he could completely control more than just the primal physical satisfaction of sex.

One feature of the film that has created a good deal of noteririty is the choice of the leading lady; Sasha Grey. She I barely out of her teens and has already carved out a niche for herself in the adult film industry. She has been featured in hundreds of films garnering several industry awards. Grey is an extremely beautiful, self confident young woman who in some important respects reflects her dual character. Primarily she portrays Christine, two thousand dollars a night call girl specializing in the titular girlfriend experience. Her nom de voyage here is Chelsea who goes through all the superficial affectations of a relationship never forgetting she is very much on the clock. Actually if she does her job correctly the only one forgetting that detail is the client. The initial scenes show her meeting up with her client, going to dinner and s a movie, afterwards she listens with expert feigned interest as they discuss the film and the effects of the down turn economy. Any casual observer would come to the conclusion they were watching s couple comfortable in a stabile relationship. This is exactly what the man paid for.

Grey does demonstrate a control before the camera that translates into an undeniable screen presence. Like her character she sees her chosen profession as a recession proof means to an end; extremely comfortable financial security. Soderbergh’s use of the digital camera is inspired. The cinema verite style provides the perfect substructure for this pseudo documentary film. He also pushes the camera beyond being just a voyeur to become an active participant; a vital character in its own right. Soderbergh frequently shoots in locations that offer multiple reflective surfaces like mirrors or glass. They are angled to allow the reflections to bounce off each other and interact. With all these images to see none of them represent the truth; none are the actual solid object. This is the world that Christine inhabits; one of all illusion without substance.

The DVD of the film is well done with a more than interesting commentary by Soderberg and Grey. They discuss how much of the film was improvised adding to the overall documentary feel and look. While there is nudity and adult themes this is not a film that will satisfy puerile expectations. It is a serious, well done character study well worth the viewing.

Posted 09/18/09