Introduction
It’s no secret that movies often tend to glaze over the harsh realities of life, making even the toughest situations appear sweet and fairytale-like. And some jobs, particularly the world’s oldest profession, are often given the ‘Hollywood treatment’. Let’s take a look at 13 such movies that overly sugarcoat the facts.
Understanding the Sugarcoating
Before we start, it is important to understand what we mean by ‘overly sugarcoating’. When we say a film is sugarcoating something, we mean that it is presenting an overly shiny, sometimes unrealistic, image of the situation or profession. It’s when things are represented as better, or simpler, than they actually are.
The 13 ‘Sweetened’ Movies
1. Pretty Woman (1990)
This iconic film, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, paints an overly cheerful picture of the oldest profession. It perpetuates the myth of a fairy tale lifestyle, where everyone gets their happily-ever-ever.
2. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
This vibrant musical, while not directly about the world’s oldest job, showcases the glamour and allure of the Moulin Rouge dancers, often hiding the harsh realities of their profession.
3. Showgirls (1995)
Showgirls has everything: glitter, drama, and dance. However, it tends to overlook the harsh reality behind the glitz and the glamour of the dancing profession.
4. Magic Mike (2012)
While it doesn’t strictly focus on the world’s oldest profession, Magic Mike showcases the life of male dancers in a slightly disoriented and glamorous way.
5. Klute (1971)
Klute tells the story of a glamorous New York call girl, whose life seems much more glitzy than it likely would have been.
6. Fanny Hill (1983)
Fanny Hill offers a romanticized view of 18th-century life, including the unavoidable part of the world’s oldest profession.
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
Depicting a cheerful brothel brimming with music, dance, and laughter, this movie surprisingly avoids the harsh realities of the profession.
8. The Girlfriend Experience (2009)
Centered on a high-end Manhattan call girl, ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ highlights the glamorous side overshadowing the not-so-pretty aspects of her occupation.
9. Belle de Jour (1967)
This French classic showcases the attractive allure of the world’s oldest profession through the perspective of a bored housewife, softly sidelining the tough aspects.
10. Irma la Douce (1963)
Set in Paris, this film tells a humorous, even quirky story about a sex worker and a law officer—an unlikely fairytale.
11. Nymphomaniac (2013)
The film follows a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recalling her experiences with little focus on the risks or challenges.
12. The Night Porter (1974)
A tale of a past prisoner and her Nazi officer captor-turned lover, this film intertwines elements of the world’s oldest profession in a non-stereotypical setting.
13. The Happy Hooker (1975)
Though the title itself gives an overly optimistic view, the movie depicts the exciting life of a pleasantly satisfied worker in the world’s oldest profession.
Conclusion
It’s essential not just to get engrossed in these movies but also to comprehend the fact that each film is a portrayal, not a representation, of real life. The world’s oldest profession, like any other work, comes with its own set of complexities and difficulties that are often left untold. So, the next time you watch these films, remember to acknowledge the sprinkle of sugar on the top.
