On Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 8:37:12 PM UTC-7, TT wrote:

Rather interesting, and timely, movie. Based on a true story!
Violet, 12 played by same age Brooke Shields is a 12 year old daughter
of a prostitute at Storyville, New Orleans, early 20th century.
Around midway to the film they sell her virginity in an auction after which...
Susan Sarandon plays Violet's mother and Keith Carradine plays
photographer E.J.Bellocq, a real life character. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._J._Bellocq
I gave it 7/10, good movie, recommended.
Some background for moralists here, a quote from imdb forum:
"Just as in the case of the movie character, the real Violet was born in
one of the brothels in 1904 the result of the union of her prostitute
mother and an unknown �John.� She grew up in the brothel and nothing of
the activities was hidden from her. At age 10 she started assisting her mother by cleaning the clients� private parts before or after the act. She soon moved to performing oral sex both working with her mother (as hinted at in the movie) and working alone. From the interview Violet
seemed to have no qualms about taking care of the Johns needs and
remembers, while still 10, earning $50 one night by doing a group of
four men who were together. Her presence at the brothel was apparently a real advantage to the business as far as drawing customers as she would often team up with other girls by
"warming up" their customers before the main act. While she admits her success at the brothel was due in part to the novelty of such a young
girl, she was not the only one there. A girl of similar age, �Liz,� also
lived with her at the brothel, and she also knew of other
mother/daughter �teams� working in the district."

(2023 Youtube upload):

"Brooke Shields on "Pretty Baby" and the Transactional Nature of Beauty | Amanpour and Company"

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