foutsass Although not much of an indie lover I saw this movie at a Women in Film fest last year. At first i found the camera work distracting but as the film progressed i got the "voyeuristic" slant that i assume the director was going for. In fact it very much added to the "documentary". The cinematography is beautiful and yet gives the effect of a minimum of stage lighting which enhances it's street feel. The use of tag along camera work only increased my sense of intruding on this characters life. I don't believe i'm giving anything away by stating this is not a documentary as the re-creation scenes clearly inform the viewer. It's a testament to the actors that the performances all around are so natural that I would imagine the lines begin to blur as far as realism and acting are blended together. It was interesting seeing this from the POV of the john, as every film out there seems to focus entirely on the prostitute. I had no idea GFE actually existed but of course it makes perfect sense. It's less about the sex act and more about the overall fantasy for these men/Daniel. Justification on how he can handle this lifestyle is a very powerful motivator for the main character and yet he goes against his own "code" by doing something he tells us is an absolute no. I will say this movie may not be for everyone as it doesn't sugar coat the lifestyle. It's rather gritty but I think the director does a fantastic job of laying it out there for the audience to experience. Definitely watchable. It's the worlds oldest profession and isn't going away anytime soon.

tom r Intelligent creation by an up and coming independent film maker.Pietrobruno's creation gives a unique perspective to the sometimes mystifying 'relationship' between client and service provider. Specifically: Why do men, many successful and committed to friends and/or family, seek out the 'Girlfriend Experience'?Thought provoking, honest and beautifully shot, GFE is for a small audience not bored by cerebral and visceral participation with the film's characters and story, reminiscent of the early work of the indie pioneer, John Sayles.We look forward to future projects from this brilliant Vancouver, BC based director and writer.

supersandor I think this is an excellent film. It's real, compelling, and intelligent. The editing pushes you along through the story with such smoothness; very well done. I actually laughed a couple times at how well some parts of the movie were cut together, you just don't see that sort of effort put in everyday. The viewer is vaulted from one scene to the next in such a seamless, but poignant way, it almost catches you off guard, while leaving you thinking it was just the way it should be. The acting is great, and it's such a unique perspective. David Lewis slaughters it. Stellar. He makes it come to life. Can't really fault the film in any way worth talking about. go see it.

pietrobruno I researched this film by conducting interviews with johns. What struck me is what regular guys they are – dads, husbands, brothers, boyfriends, buddies, sons. Very nice guys. Because I did not want to vilify or stereotype the client, I decided that the client in Girlfriend Experience had to be the 'guy next door'.During the shoot, I was worried that my decision not to reveal the sex-worker Adrian's face or voice would end-up being a grave mistake but I intentionally wanted Adrian to be non- existent, in order to emphasize that the prostitute does not exist. Prostitution is about male sexuality, not female sexuality. It's all about the guy, not about the girl.What fascinates me about the phenomena of the GFE is how the client can fully enjoy the illusion of realness, while still being fully aware that it is fake. When the sex-worker Adrian says, "I love you", Daniel knows that "it's bullshit, but who cares? GFE makes us feel good". I admire that kind of imaginative complexity.Girlfriend Experience's film style mimics the style of a GFE encounter, in that the film does not try to be convincing real; instead, the film uses cinematic codes to tease and taunt with the charade of realism. Like the GFE provider and buyer, the filmmaker and viewer are conscious of the film's simulation of authenticity, complicit in the entanglement of illusion and reality. And hopefully enjoying it!