Sex work is, by society’s account, as salacious as it gets, even when it is legal and legitimate. Society’s fascination with the dichotomy of the real versus the fantasy when it comes to porn has become increasingly relevant as social media brings the audience and performer closer than ever. Simone Jude’s documentary, Public Sex, Private Lives, takes it one step further by offering a poignant glimpse into the lives of three well-known adult performers that will change society’s perspective on porn stars forever.
Public Sex, Private Lives (PSPL) documents the personal and professional lives of Lorelei Lee, Isis Love, and Princess Donna. The film offers an uncommon perspective on the lives of porn stars by treating porn as only one component of who these women are. It veers away from sensationalizing the industry, and approaches sex work like any other job.
At the beginning of the film, Lorelei Lee says, “The more I did [porn], the less I could prevent it from impacting my future,” expressing a common sentiment amongst sex workers, particularly female sex workers. Sex work is still a highly stigmatized profession. Every few months, we hear of another person being fired for their sex work past, even when it was legal and had no bearing on the person’s existing professional responsibilities. Once a whore, always a whore.
The film follows Lorelei Lee as she faces involvement in an obscenity trial against John Stagliano, Isis Love’s scare when Child Protective Services insists on meeting with her regarding the care of her son, and Princess Donna’s life as she deals with the recent death of her father.
Check out the trailer for Public Sex, Private Lives here.
All three women are facing very different challenges, but PSPL shows how each of them are equally affected by the stigma against their work, both personally and professionally. Most of the issues they face are far from alien to civilian society. In the words of the the director, "[the film was created to] explore the personal complications and interrelated stigma that comes with performing in pornography, while also revealing these women’s real lives, relationships and dreams for the future." Whether it is negotiating jealousy and boundaries in romance, navigating grief and valuing family, or dealing with rambunctious pre-teens, the issues are most not caused by the sex industry directly, but highly amplified by its social standing.
Most notably, Public Sex, Private Lives does a superb job of portraying each of these women as more than just Porn Stars. The intimate glimpses into each of their lives humanizes them in a way that is extremely uncommon when it comes to coverage of sex work and sex workers. The film allows them to truly speak for themselves on what attracted them to the industry, the challenges they face, and why they continue to do what they do. Each articulate, intelligent woman upends the predominant view of who sex workers are, and are capable of being.
Find out more about the film, including upcoming screenings, at their website here. Make sure to keep tabs on their social media too; the film will be having an online release in the near future, and you don’t want to miss it.
