Gigola

George, a charismatic and adventurous young woman, born from an old, catholic family, falls in love, in her teens, with a female teacher named Sybil. Devastated by her lover’s eventual suicide some years later, George embarks on an exciting and reckless journey to the depths of Pigalle’s nightlife, circa 1960. After an encounter with a very wealthy, still attractive, but older woman, Odete, who offers her money and gifts in return for sexual favours, George becomes Gigola, a kind of gigolo for women only.

“Based on the controversial best selling novel “Gigola” by Laure Charpentier. The book was first printed in 1972 but immediately retrieved by censors. The controversial novel was published again in 2002 after 30 years. Charpentier pursued a filmic adaptation of her book and eventually directed it.

GIGOLA is an excellent film that stands out from the crowd of lesbian-themed films, in terms of cinematic quality mise en scène and cast. Almodovar’s muse and Spain’s star actress, Marisa Paredes and Spanish actor Eduardo Noriega give wonderful performance. But most of all Lou Doillon’s iconic portrayal of George in male drag waving her cane in the decadent street of Pigalle deserves applauds.”

RHEE Soue-won, Pusan FF