director: Pola Rapaport
starring: Catherine Mouchet · Penelope Puymirat · Cyril
Corral
Dominique Aury · Thierry de Carbonnières
Published
in Paris in 1954, Story of O was an immediate bestseller and literary
scandal: an elegantly written S&M fantasy that had all the hallmarks
of being an autobiographical account by the pseudonymous Pauline Réage.
In 1994 Dominique Aury, a mild-mannered editor for France’s prestigious
Gallimard Press, revealed her authorship. Pola Rapaport explores Aury’s
inspiration, re-creating the world of ’50s literary Paris and setting
it against dramatic sequences that bring the infamous book to life. The
author as well as various French intellectuals expound on the thorny relationship
between sexuality and power, submission and freedom, liberation and non-being.
Even today, Story of O mystifies in its power and confounds in its contradictions.
—Film Forum
A French/US
co-production film; 1.66:1 widescreen; uncut (80 min) version in DVD
encoded for REGION 1 (USA), playable on any American DVD machine; in
French and English language with English subtitles; bonus includes interview
with writer John de St. Jorre, who revealed Dominique Aury’s identity
as the author of O in a groundbreaking 1994 New Yorker article, liner
notes by John de St. Jorre, Dominique Aury bio, director’s statement,
original theatrical trailer
For 18+
year old viewers only.
Violence/Adult Material/Nudity/Rape: Viewer discretion is advised.
