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Writer of O

2005 · 80 min

A cerebral, literary documentary that interweaves interviews with dramatized scenes, inviting contemplation on desire, submission, and the secret life of a writer.

Directed by
Pola Rapaport
Genres
Documentary
Starring
Catherine Mouchet, Pénélope Puymirat, Cyril Corral
Overview
Published in Paris in 1954, Story of O was an immediate bestseller and literary scandal: an elegantly written S&M fantasy that had all the hallmarks of being an autobiographical account by the pseudonymous Pauline Réage. In 1994 Dominique Aury, a mild-mannered, dowdy editor for France’s prestigious Gallimard press, revealed her authorship. Pola Rapaport explores Aury's inspiration, recreating the world of '50s literary Paris and setting it against dramatic sequences that bring the infamous book to life. The author as well as various French intellectuals expound on the thorny relationship between sexuality and power, submission and freedom, liberation and non-being.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Pola Rapaport
Genres
Documentary
Starring
Catherine Mouchet, Pénélope Puymirat, Cyril Corral
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
    Pacing
    measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
    Attention
    engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
    Themes
    • sexuality
    • power
    • identity
    • art
    • gender
    Places
    • big city
    Era
    period
    Audience
    adult
    Form
    • documentary
    • true story
    Content intensity
    • Gore none
    • Language mild
    • Violence none
    • Sex strong
    All scales, 0 to 10
    Scales, 0 to 10
    ScaleValue0 to 10
    Action1
    Horror1
    Humour2
    Realism8
    Romance4
    Tension3
    Darkness5
    Complexity7
    Emotional weight6

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    Where to watch in the UK

    No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

    Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

    Details

    Genres
    documentary
    Directed by
    Pola Rapaport
    Written by
    Pola Rapaport
    Starring
    Catherine Mouchet, Pénélope Puymirat, Cyril Corral, Alain Rimoux
    Runtime
    80 min
    Country
    United States of America, France
    Languages
    English, French

    TMDBIMDb