Scarlet Road (2011) User Reviews

A must see documentary

[imdb2-556-923983 · 10/10 · 12 December 2011]

There's plenty to be said about the sex industry, both here in Australia and worldwide, and there have been plenty of documentaries on the subject. The common feature (perhaps to documentaries about a great many other subjects, as well) is that the more you know about something, the less scary, subversive, immoral, outlandish or deviant it appears to be, and the more you are willing to accept one simple fact: people are people. We're all trying to do our bit the best we know how.

This documentary stands out in succeeding in this goal more than any other documentary I have seen on the subject. Director Catherine Scott brings a refreshingly human angle (and gives a refreshingly human face in Rachel Wotton) to two population sectors who are consistently given the short end of the stick: sex workers on the one hand and people with disabilities on the other. Both groups have been the subject of discrimination and misunderstanding since time out of mind. Sex workers, in particular, (as well as their clientèle) have been demonized and their practices outlawed, ironically by the very same people who fly under the banner of human rights (but often prefer to do so while hiding under a veil of ignorance, misconception and sound-bite dogmas).

This is a movie for activists and feminists to see. This is a movie that says: stop hurting me by trying to help me. Stop and ask me what it is that I want. It showcases "Touching Base", an organization devoted to helping people with disabilities fulfill their innate need for intimacy, this being the best example I have seen of the reversal of roles: it is the sex workers who are doing their best to help those in need; it is the human rights activists who are outlawing their actions almost everywhere.

It's an eye-opener.

Everyone should see this!

[hollyinalbury · 10/10 · 24 January 2012]

When i first saw this film, i laughed and i cried. The second time i watched, i did exactly the same. Im sure when i watch it again(which i will do) it will have the same effect! This film really gave a great inside look into both the lives of people with disabilities and Sex Workers. It allows people to see a different side to Sex Workers - a compassionate side that they may not have realized existed. It also makes people think about the rights of people with disabilities. A powerful and moving film! Beautifully done xxx Thank you for making this documentary! As a Sex Worker myself, its nice to see us being portrayed in such a real and positive way. Being a Sex Worker is about more than just sex, its about people, compassion, understanding and most importantly (for me) making our clients feel special, needed and wanted. Something many people with disabilities don't get on a day to day basis.

A Compassionate Film about the Sex Workers helping the Disabled

[JustCuriosity · 9/10 · 12 March 2012]

Scarlet Road was well-received in its North American premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. Scarlet Road tackles two taboo subjects at once in a way that really challenges accepted norms in a positive and compelling manner. The film follows the story of woman named Rachel who is an Australian sex worker in New South Wales where prostitution is a legal regulated industry. In showing her story Rachel challenges many of the stereotypes that all of sex workers as being abused and suffering. It becomes clear that she can live a fulfilling life as a sex worker, because prostitution is legal where she is. Her occupation and lifestyle are much like that of anybody else, because the law doesn't push her to the dangerous fringes of society. But we also learn that Rachel is a unique and compassionate person, who specializes in providing sexual services for those with disabilities – who often have a difficult time finding sexual partners. We also meet two of her clients – an older man with multiple sclerosis and a young man with cerebral palsy. The film seeks to humanize both the sex workers and the disabled, both groups which are often marginalized from the mainstream of society. Scarlet Road is a powerful, compassionate film that brings light to subjects that are often ignored. A film like this probably couldn't be made in most parts of the U.S., because the activities being filmed would be considered illegal. The film provides an excellent look at two worlds that are often shrouded in mystery.