Elles 2012

Set within the span of a single day, Anne (played by Juliette Binoche) is a middle-aged journalist for the local Elle magazine residing in Paris. She is racing against time to submit her article on prostitution, juggling various tasks that include grocery shopping and preparing dinner for her husband’s boss and his wife. Tensions simmer as she frets over her two sons; the older one has taken to skipping school while the younger seems increasingly captivated by video games. Interspersed within her day are poignant flashbacks revealing conversations Anne has had with two young women embroiled in the sex industry, showcasing the profound impact their choices have on themselves and their loved ones.

Earlier in the day, Anne reaches out to Charlotte (portrayed by Anaïs Demoustier), a local teenager engaged in prostitution. In a park, Charlotte appears candid and at ease regarding her sexual encounters with clients. Despite attempting part-time work, she found it detrimental to her studies and has since turned to prostitution, all while crafting stories to explain her finances to her family and boyfriend. Her avuncular demeanor invites her clients to share intimate details about their lives and spouses, challenging her initial assumptions of her work being solely about physical encounters.

In contrast, Anne meets Alicja (acted by Joanna Kulig), another young woman from Poland, whose experiences have been markedly different. Upon arriving in France to pursue her studies, she not only lost her suitcase but also found her student advisors lacking any real support. A fellow student came to her aid, although his kindness had ulterior motives tied to romantic interest. By the time of her interview, Alicja enjoys the fruits of her labor, owning a stylish apartment and fashionable accessories. Unlike Charlotte, Alicja embodies a more carefree and hedonistic attitude, even serving Anne drinks during their conversation. She candidly reveals that her clients are often bored husbands looking for escapism, describing various sexual acts ranging from public encounters to intimate sessions at home and even further revelations about the bizarre requests of her clients. Intriguingly, she acknowledges a degree of addiction to her lifestyle, despite the initially liberating feeling of being in a foreign land.

Ultimately, the fates of these two young women remain open to the audience’s interpretation. As the film draws to a close, the focus shifts back to Anne, contemplating how her encounters with Charlotte and Alicja have influenced her own life and her relationship with her husband, particularly as she tends to him at the end of the day.