Search - A Call Girl on DVD

Very much a simply ok movie.

C. R. Swanson | Phoenix | 09/07/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"(special thanks to Film Movement for providing me with a screener!)

Prostitution is often described as the world's oldest profession. At various points in history its been banned, praised and made into a form of worship. These days it simply is what it is, and for at least some people, it's a viable way to make money.

One of those people is featured in this latest release from Film Movement. The film is a drama about a young woman, Alexandra (Nina Ivanisin), who has escaped small town life and is now a student living in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. She wants to have a certain kind of lifestyle and that lifestyle requires more money than a student might normally have. So like many attractive people before her, she figures that she might as well start selling sex to get the life she wants.

At first things seem to be going quite well for her, and she's soon raking in enough money to buy a small condo. But right at the beginning of the film things take a dark turn as a German member of the European Parliament, and would-be customer, dies of a heart attack. She's got the presence of mind to call for medical help and then scoots out of the hotel. Soon the hunt is on for her, which doesn't stop her from continuing to work, something which eventually captures the eyes of a couple local pimps. Things go downhill from there.

I liked this movie, but didn't love it. It wasn't anything terribly spectacular. The main character isn't that sympathetic or as interesting as the story wants you to think she is, though her father, a former rock musician trying to get back into the game was quite interesting. I'd actually rather like to see a movie just about him, since I think that could be really fascinating.

I did get some vague feelings about the sense of quiet desperation with which she leads her life, but there were many times when I wanted to smack her upside the head and say, "Hey, wake up and join reality!" I was pleased at the outcome of the film, which seemed to me to be fairly realistic and well-suited to the story. I was also quite fascinated to see Slovenia, a country about which I know a little, but not much. Ljubljana itself looks like a very nice city and the small town she comes from seems quite lovely as well. I also really liked the fact that the film didn't seem to take any position one way or the other about the morality of prostitution. It just presents it as a fact of life and then deals with it. That was nice to see.

Ultimately I can't really give a recommendation on this one. It was interesting enough, and not bad, but it's not one that I'm likely to watch again.

== Short Subject ==

This month's short subject is called Honor, and it centers around a woman (Mad Men's Elizabeth Moss), who recently lost her husband in Iraq. A former friend of his comes to visit her one day with a stack of letters and as the two people talk a dark secret is soon revealed.

Again as with the main feature, I liked this short, but I didn't love it. Neither of the two characters really got or held my attention, and the central story didn't really interest me. The secret that's revealed and some of the emotional toll it's clearly taken on Moss' character was fairly interesting, but in a movie this brief there's not that much that could be done with it. It's not a bad short, but not anything worth taking a lot of effort to see."

Excellent film

Susan Page | Baghdad, Iraq | 04/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw "Slovenian Girl" (as this film was titled at the time) in January of 2010 at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It is spot-on about post-Soviet life in Eastern Europe, where the vacuum created when the Soviet lifestyle was replaced by capitalism is filled by amoral activity aimed at material gain at any cost. The Slovenian actress in the title role is amazing -- able to show her duplicity and manipulating ways merely by a look in her eyes. The supporting cast is equally good. Excellent all 'round!"

Conquering the World

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 01/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""A Call Girl" ("Slovenka")

Conquering the World

Amos Lassen

Alexandra is a student in from Ljubljana who has a plan to conquer the world. She works as a prostitute and has her life going where she wants it to but when a death shakes up her life, she finds herself dealing with the issues of fear, responsibility and loneliness. She uses prostitution as a short cut to the "good life". She is an avaricious student of English whose father has failed at whatever he does. She advertises her services under the name of "Slovenian Girl" and this is to appeal to the wealthy diplomats and businessman who visit her town. Her first client is a German member of the European parliament and he has a coronary when they are together. After she calls for help she steals his money and later she learns that she is wanted by the police for questioning. She is also on the run from two pimps who dangle her from a high rise balcony. At the same time the banks wants to call in her mortgage and she must convince a professor to allow her to take an exam. All the while her former lover is seeking vengeance.
Nina Ivanisin is Alexandra who looks ever so innocent but is totally convincing as a pathological liar and a manipulator and a member of the world's oldest profession. The film is actually a metaphor for the values of capitalism and personal gain which have taken over Europe. Damjan Kozole has directed this film with cynicism throughout--there is no redemption for nor is there remorse from Alexandra. The film follows the double life of Alexandra and it is tense. The film is natural--the performances, the script and the direction are all near perfection as they create a believable story. The cast is excellent throughout and they are each true individuals which is interesting because they are not recognizable characters. The comedy is dark and this is a bittersweet and touching film.
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