The Oldest Profession

Yet another blind buy on my part. I found this one’s storyline to be quite dark but extremely entertaining. Well worth your time.

This is one of those movies i didn't like until i sat with it for a few days. Now i love it.

This has been on my watch list for a long time. Can’t wait to dive into!

I enjoyed The Oldest Profession and would recommend it with some caveats. The subject matter gets dark, and oftentimes disturbing or depressing. There was one scene toward the end that had my jaw drop. It was very effective emotionally, and left me bummed out for a while.

On the other hand, there were positive things like the use of color. For the most part the movie is shot in black and white, but almost akin to The Wizard of Oz, there is a scene where Noboru Tanaka makes effective use of color that brought my mood back up. The film isn't for the faint of heart, but if you know what you're getting into and are ok with that, it is a film worth your time.

The film has a nice, yet simple, slipcover and also includes a booklet with photos from production as well as an essay!

The Oldest Profession (1967) is a wonderfully odd anthology that brings together six different takes on prostitution across history, with each segment offering its own blend of comedy, satire, and period flavor. The film benefits enormously from its eclectic cast and the contrasting styles of directors such as Claude Autant-Lara, Mauro Bolognini, Philippe de Broca, Michael Pfleghar, and Jean-Luc Godard, whose contributions range from playful farce to more eccentric, experimental territory. Some segments are definitely stronger than others, but that inconsistency is part of the fun, and the film remains an entertaining snapshot of mid-century European and American cinema tackling its subject with a mischievous sense of humor. It’s a strange, stylish, and occasionally hilarious curiosity that should appeal to fans of vintage anthology films and international cinema.