jorubyryan I have watched quite a few documentaries about sex work and sex workers. But this film is truly different and original. It is definitely one of the best ever produced. I was privileged to view it at the Desiree Alliance Sex Worker Rights Conference. I truly believe that the fact that a former sex industry worker produced the film is quite significant. She was able to gain trust from her interviewee subjects in a genuine manner. Several she already had long term relationships with, and this friendship helped allowed her subjects to feel safe. Too many documentaries on this subject, even if well intentioned, come off as sensationalistic and objectifying. They are almost always made by non-sex workers who often have a concealed political agenda. Here, the producer and interviewer comes of as a peer or a sister, and the tone this creates in the film is both intimate and refreshing. Sex workers need to be humanized in this culture. They need to be seen as our sisters, our neighbors, our co-workers and our fellow parishioners. This film succeeds to humanize all of its subjects and let their complex stories unfold in their own time and their own way. It neither demonizes the complex subject of sex work, nor does it romanticize it. it shows it in all its messy and complicated diversity, and this is such a feat for the realm of representation and documentary film. The film does demonstrate, at least to me, that all sex work needs to be decriminalized. The criminalization of sex work is wrong on all levels and needs to be changed. While not overtly political, the film sets the stage for sex worker rights because it humanizes sex workers and helps the viewer to identify with these women and their complex and difficult life circumstances. As a teacher I want to say how useful and transformative this film would be for many disciplines, including Sociology, Social Work, Women's and Gender Studies, Sexuality Studies, Cultural Studies and more. Whoever you are, view this film and transform and challenge your own thinking on this topic. And learn so much about humanity, resilience and strength from the stories of these women who are coming to voice, emerging from the shadows, and daring to fight for positive social change.

Ray Aldred When one looks for documentaries about the sex industry or what it's like to be a sex worker, usually they find something done by outsiders (ie. reporters, investigative journalists, and so on), but American Courtesans breaks this trend. It is a heartfelt, provocative, moving and revealing documentary comprised primarily of interviews with workers in the sex trade, in their own voices. The viewer is taken into the lives of those in the sex trade, as they reveal the intricate details of their lives from births, through childhood, and into their adult years. Keenly aware of the stereotype that those in the sex trade are forced or coerced into entering their profession, all of the interviewees demand that their decision to enter the sex industry was just that, a decision. It is a decision based on their past and present constraints. This film, in part, helps one understand some of these constraints.At times, the narratives are tragic and incredibly moving, as some of the interviews reveal some dark memories of assault and violence. My heart nearly broke as one Kristen DiAngelo (the producer of the film) bravely tells, in tears and in great detail, how she was the victim of violent assault. But her story does not end there; DiAngelo later reveals the steps she took to cope with her traumatic past, and empower herself. At other times, the stories take a surprisingly humorous turn. Indeed, one can't help but conclude that these lives are not simply defined by tragedy, but also triumph, humor, resilience and compassion.American Courtesans is a film that reveals the striking details of those in the sex trade. It traverses the terrain of their lives, and gives a human face to the industry. At the same time, it reveals the diversity in backgrounds, histories, and perspectives of the participants. I enjoyed the film for it's candidness and the remarkable courage these women had for agreeing to be interviewed for the film. As such, I would recommend this movie to any person interested in knowing the stories and lives of some of those in the sex trade. All in all it is a great documentary.

DJP_ma I just viewed "American Courtesans" over the past week. This look into the lives and thoughts of a variety of women in the field of erotic labor is a "must - see" for anyone who wants a real comprehensive understanding of the people who offer Escort services, their life backgrounds, and how they view the value and the challenges of their profession. I would encourage and recommend viewing of "American Coutesans" to anyone with preconceived notions about erotic services and the people who provide that work. Those notions will be changed by the end of viewing the film. This documentary stands with the best of "Identity Politics" film -making such as the seminal documentary on LGBT individuals, "Word Is Out". I highly recommend this documentary to any academic with curriculum involving human sexuality and culture, social movements, and marginalized and stigmatized social groups.

willdaviswd I saw this film at ECU Film Festival in Paris, France. The theater was packed, so much so that people were sitting on the floor in the isles. I went to this film not knowing what to expect. I have been following 'American Courtesans' progress and I had heard that it was different than other films about the industry, and, after a long awaited opportunity to see it, I found that it is. The first thing I will say is, if you have any preconceived ideas about this film, its content, etc., throw them out the window. This is a film that speaks to people, and, more specifically, it speaks to women.It's thought provoking, to say the least, and honest. I appreciated it for its sincerity and the sincerity of the women, clients, and family members who told their stories. It portrayed the good and bad regarding the industry. It showed the women for who they are; their failures and their successes. It did not have a political agenda. It was refreshing to see a film about the industry that doesn't have the slant of either conservative or liberal media. And, it was just really cool to see what these women are really like. You never really know who they are, this lets you experience that. People watching the film laughed and cried.I didn't have the opportunity to speak to Kristen (Producer) and James (Director) after the film. The Q & A was short and they were surrounded by people talking to them about the film (oddly enough, most of them from the U.S.). Everyone with a million questions and excited that a film like this had been produced. I hope people will set aside their bias and hatred and go see this film. It really was amazing and unlike anything that's been done before.