Review of Pretty Baby (1978) by Katherine B — 30 Apr 2011

Very controversial, edgy, shocking and boundary-pushing, by 1978 standards and by 2011 standards. (Probably even more so by 2011 standards - strangely, the world has become more prudish and obstructive of art as time has gone on).

While the central story - that of a 12-year old prostitute - is one that has a right to be told, the story actually goes nowhere. It is as if director Louis Malle set out to shock people, and everything else is secondary. Plot just drifts for the entire 109 minutes.

The performances are great though. Brooke Shields, who was actually 12 at the time, showed that she was a star in the making.