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The most brutally honest film title in cinema history — and yes, it's a comedy.
TMDB
44

A Prostitute Serving the Public and in Compliance with the Laws of the State (1971)

gritty melodramaItalian exploitationworking-class tragedy

Overview

ComedyDrama

A hooker, mother of two, leaves her abusing husband for a young boxer. On the street she gets assaulted and beaten by pimps.

Flag of ITITItalian
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Acting

Giovanna Ralli commits to every humiliation with painful conviction.

Production

That title card — legal compliance has never looked so cinematic.

Best for:Solo: Late night existential crisis viewing with wine.·Rewatch: To decode if the comedy is intentional or catastrophic.
Heads up:Violence: Multiple brutal assaults by pimps, shot unflinchingly.·Disturbing: Domestic abuse scenes and systemic exploitation of sex workers.
Italo Zingarelli

Director

Italo Zingarelli

ReleasedJan 22, 1971
Runtime1h 30m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensityhigh
Tonedark
Feelheavy
Greenwich Film Production
West Film

Top Cast

Giovanna Ralli

Giovanna Ralli

Oslavia

Giancarlo Giannini

Giancarlo Giannini

Walter Merighi

Jean-Marc Bory

Jean-Marc Bory

François Coly

Denise Bataille

Denise Bataille

Paolo Bonacelli

Paolo Bonacelli

Roberto Chevalier

Roberto Chevalier

Giorgio Dolfin

Giorgio Dolfin

Antonio La Raina

Antonio La Raina

Ezio Marano

Ezio Marano

Enrico Marciani

Enrico Marciani

Gina Mascetti

Gina Mascetti

Aldo Massasso

Aldo Massasso

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

This belongs to Italy's 'comédie à l'italienne' wave — genre-mashing social critiques that Hollywood wouldn't touch. The title parodies official government euphemisms for sex work.

Trivia

Giancarlo Giannini made this the same year as 'The Seduction of Mimi' — he was cornering the market on tortured Italian masculinity. The 3.0 TMDB rating reflects four voters, not quality. Probably.

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