Ms Kathleen's Movie Review

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In real life, Severine and her husband, Pierre, sleep in separate beds because she cannot bring herself to be intimate with him. He is understanding and believes she is just a “good girl” who needs time to become comfortable with him before she can engage in sex. Being the wife of a doctor, Severine lives the good life. They are members of the county club, they live in a nice home and she wears expensive clothing.

Severine is obviously bored and when she hears the gossip that one of the women at the country club lives a double life by working at a “whorehouse”, she becomes obsessed with the thrill of what it must be like to live such a double life. Severine asks questions and a cab driver over hears the conversation taking place in the back seat of his cab and informs Severine that while no longer associated with red light districts, Whorehouses are as popular as ever in Paris, they just happen to be more upscale and for a wealthier clientele. In her search for information, Severine learns of exclusive Paris brothels where housewives sometimes work in the afternoons, making extra money while their husbands are at the office.

Henri, a friend of Pierre, is a sex-crazed male who desires Severine and who frequents Paris brothels. When he hears Severine asking questions about whorehouses, he gives her the address of an exclusive brothel ran by a business woman by the name of Madame夫人 — the French word for Mrs Anais. Severine is now overcome with the temptation to visit Madame夫人 — the French word for Mrs Anais’ brothel.