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.

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.

I attended The Women's International Film and Arts Festival in Miami, Fl for the third year and once again saw so many great films and this year it was "American Courtesans" that caught my attention. I have watched many films/TV/News shows on this subject, but this was the most informative film I have seen regarding the adult industry. It was personal and up close. I found myself wanting to know each of the women and as the film went on I realized that it was a human and civil rights documentary, much like "Free Angela" which was played on opening night.I think there are times we believe that women's rights are equal in the United States today, but then you see something like this and you realize we have a long way to go. The escorts in the film were smart and articulate and their stories were more interesting than fiction. I found myself tearing up in the middle and wishing I could become a part of this movement. Kristen DiAngelo, the films producer had to leave before the screening, but I had met her opening night. After the film I had a million questions that I wanted to ask, and wished she could have stayed. Two of the women in the film had attended the screening. Pearl Callahan and Skylar Cruz. We questioned them for so long that Pearl almost missed her plane.I can see this film being around for a long time and becoming the subject of women's studies classes here in the US (my major). It drove home the point that this is not an issue of race or money, but a women's issue that effects all of us. The sets were fabulous, and the women were candid. Definitely not a docudrama, but a documentary about these women's lives. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know the truth about the escort industry. If there was one complaint I had, it was that the room was too light and during the night time scenes I had a bit of trouble seeing the screen. The sound was so good, that it was hair raising, and the editing much better than any documentary I have seen.So, my opinion is go see this film. Whether you are female or male, you will not believe what these women's lives are like in this day and age. I had never really thought about it before, but I wish I could become involved and help to change the laws.

I was lucky enough to catch American Courtesans at the Bloody Hero Film Festival in Phoenix Arizona, and although I don't usually write reviews, I decided that on this film I would. I went to the viewing expecting a docudrama with a hard sell for legalization since the film was "from within the industry", or at least that's how it was promoted. However, by the end I had a totally different take on American Courtesans and the escort industry as a whole. As a woman, I found the film disturbing, but not in a bad way. I found myself thinking back over my life and my struggles and relating to issues these women face. I went home that night, and scenes I saw in the film keep replaying in my head unsettling me. I think what bothered me the most was that after watching American Courtesans, I couldn't believe how brainwashed I had been by traditional media, that loves to hate these women. The film is a moving piece and people seemed to either love it, or hate it. I saw both people who got up and walked out, uncomfortable with the emotional content (hard to watch as it pulls at your heart strings), and others who sat there crying or with mouths open. It is a film that definitely makes you think and re-evaluate our take on Sex Workers. In fact, it seemed to call in to question quite a few of my beliefs about an industry I thought I knew something about.The visuals were beautiful and the story was compelling. I found it honest, almost to a fault, candid, and rather selfless as I believe that these women took a large risk speaking out. All in all, this is a much watch film if you want to see a more realistic side of the Sex Industry today.