Modern Whore | TIFF50

Rich red velvet curtains. Bright technicolour sets. Camp. Laughter and community. Tears and solidarity. This and more can be found in Nicole Bauzin (dir.) and Andrea Werhun's Modern Whore. Andrea Werhun stars as both subject, writer, and producer on this film which explores her experiences as a sex worker in Toronto. The film is based on the book Modern Whore: A Memoir, created by the duo. It's a hybrid documentary combining meaningful interviews and colourful re-enactments of Werhun's experiences, acted out by Werhun herself. Her charismatic storytelling draws you into the world of sex work - both the sexual and financial liberation, as well as the stigma and discrimination.

Modern Whore is fantastic film. It's both fun and campy when it needs to be and serious and thoughtful when called for. The cinematography by Nina Djacic is a feast for the eyes - bright pinks, blues, reds, and yellows immerse you into Werhun's world, showing sex workers in a new and humanizing light. The storytelling is punctuated by Dylan Glynn's beautiful animation connecting you to the heart of the story - the desire to be seen as human. It's also funny as hell - we get campy acting moments from Werhun abound, from a "femme fatale" choking on her sultry cigarette smoke to a hilariously unhinged character named "Shame".

This film is also deeply moving. The interviews with Werhun and her mother as well as her conversation with her long term romantic partner moved me tears as they spoke about how they stood by her and loved her deeply. How powerful it is to be seen and loved unconditionally.

Werhun is honest about her experiences with bad clients, and also with great clients who respected her boundaries and led with empathy. A spectrum of experiences are shared in this film to show the full picture of one woman's experience of being a sex worker.

The fact that this project is led by a sex worker is so integral to how effective and important this film is. It is informed by lived experience, rather than a voyeuristic outsider looking in - a rarity. I was reminded of the important disability rights refrain "nothing about us without us". Werhun speaks of the need to develop a new archetype for sex workers, to move beyond and challenge the stereotype of being victims or villians, but rather the heroes of their own stories. By telling her own story and uplifting those of her peers, Werhun seeks to create space for sex workers to be seen fully in their human complexity, as worthy of respect and being valued - just like anyone else.

The film also is intentional in how it approaches the intersectional experiences of sex workers. I was particularly moved by the conversations between Werhun and her friends (both current and former sex workers) where they spoke about the highs and lows of the industry, the importance of sharing stories, and community care. They explicitly named how experiences of sex work differ based on race, disability, gender, and so much more. This added nuance to the story being told and ensuring the perspective was multifaceted.

Modern Whore is also refreshingly frank about survival under capitalism and how all labour is inherently exploitative. The question is posed, why should being a sex worker be seen as any more dangerous, exploitative, or risky than any other field? Sex work is work. Sex workers deserve to be respected and celebrated. There needs to be space made for sex workers to tell their own stories - the good, the bad, and all the in-between. Modern Whore does just that with a technicolour personality to boot. This is a must watch!