10 Louis Theroux Documentaries You Need To Watch Before You Die
5. Louis And The Brothel
Following the success of his acclaimed BBC series, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and When Louis Met…, Theroux began making a collection of one-off documentaries for the broadcaster.
The first of which, in typical Theroux fashion, featured him spending 6 weeks at to one of Nevada’s biggest legal brothels and provided a compelling insight into lives of the establishment’s owners, workers and clients.
Over the course of his visit, Theroux showcases an often overlooked aspect of the sex work industry - the safety benefits of brothels.
Instead of being forced to look for clients on the streets, sex workers are able to work and live in a relatively danger-free environment with a level of support.
Although there are still many issues facing the women, the documentary does an excellent job of altering perceptions surrounding the industry.
Throughout the documentary the workers are never portrayed as helpless victims, but instead people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Similarly, the inclusion of interviews with the brothel's clients offers a fresh perspective on the industry. In many ways, it is the clients that come across as the film's tragic characters who have varying levels of delusion over the extent of their 'relationships' with the brothel workers.
Overall, the stereotype challenging and non-judgemental attitude from Theroux throughout is highly commendable and begins to provoke an important debate about the considerable benefits of organised sex work.