Paprika (1991)

Tinto Brass writes & directs this grim comedy, loosely based on John Cleland's novel "Fanny Hill." It is a story about Peepa, a young girl, who, in a naive attempt to help out her fiancée with money problems, ends up being dragged head over heels into a world of prostitution and sleaze.

Now, my expectations for this film were very low. Numerous sources clearly stated that it was Tinto Brass' worst film and I was expecting something in vain of last year's appalling "Fallo!," but I was pleasantly surprised! It was amazing because how underrated this film is. Really.

Of course, it did feel that some of the gags in the film (the pervy Aristocrat, a Madam who is obsessed with baths, butt fetishizing admiral, an old businessman, who has a peculiar taste in "coffee," etc.) were slightly out of place, but in my opinion, the film managed to create a dark, cynical mood and kept it throughout. Some scenes are truly chilling, like in the very beginning where a physician warns the naive Peepa that her "two week plan" will stretch to forever, but she doesn't listen. The girl delves into the world of smut peddling, coins the nickname "Paprika" and gradually degrades herself to the lowliest level she can get herself in the world of the brothels. But the bit that really sent chills down my spine was when Paprika ended up in the sleaziest of whore houses and is confronted by a veteran prostitute, a mere shadow of a woman, nicknamed "The Urinal," who screams at her "YOU WILL NEVER GET OUT!!!!" Once again, Tinto Brass perfectly captures the personality of his female lead. At first, Paprika is happy and naive, then she gradually becomes disillusioned with her new "job." She still giggles and makes raunchy jokes, but the harsh reality keeps rearing its ugly head. All the men that seem to love her turn into her pimps, she gets brutally attacked by anal fetishist, her "co-workers" keep taking advantage of her, there is just no end to the humiliations that she goes through. There is one particularly disturbing scene in a train, where we are not sure whether Paprika is being brutally raped or sensually pleasured. But the scariest factor is that the girl never learns her lesson. She continues on the rocky path, with no remorse or consciousness, slowly becoming a skilled and powerful woman of pleasure.

And sure, Paprika does go through some flings, but this no "Pretty Woman" and there will be no Richard Gere. The men take Paprika for what she is, a mere whore, unworthy of a long term relationship. Even the film's "happy ending," if you can call it that, manages to become extremely dark, but I will not spoil it for you.

If you are in a mood for a realistic take on a life of a prostitute, laced with some interesting black humour, then you simply MUST check out Tinto Brass' "Paprika." No matter what the bad reviews say, it is a great film and should be given far more credit than it receives.

P.S. - Watch out for Tinto Brass' cameo as a sleazy, low-rent abortionist.