Vivre sa Vie is a tragedy in the modern sense. The life of an actress who must resort to prostitution to support herself is depicted in a realist style. Many of the scenes bear the stamp of Godard who is the auteur behind this film. In the most memorable scene the actress turned prostitute dances around as her fate is bargained away.
The scenes of her working in the sex trade are not so tawdry. In fact they are sensual for 60s standards. We are left with the impression that prostitution is legal and regulated by the government. In a voice over from the protagonist's pimp's perspective we are informed of all the details of what a sex worker's life is like in 60s Paris. Even by today's standard this exposition of material is and the scenes that accompany it, are risque.
The ending of the movie is, perhaps, the most shocking of all the scenes. The dance sequence seduces the audience, it causes us to sympathize with the prostitute, and, indeed, fall in love with her. The end sequence brings us to a heart wrenching conclusion. It becomes obvious that the pimp has sold the prostitute off to other gangsters. The pimp sense that the other gangsters are trying to rip him off. In the fight that ensues, the prostitute is shot dead, left lying in the middle of the street.
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