In 1957 Trieste, a few months before the general ban on brothels, inexperienced country girl Mimma becomes Paprika to finance her useless boyfriend as a prostitute. Amid the hustle and bustle of Rome, Paprika drifts from one brothel to another as she learns the ropes and works her way up one client at a time. However, as Paprika embarks on a stormy journey of self-discovery and sexual liberation, the sense that something is missing haunts her. Is Paprika meant to experience a passionate romance and solve the great mystery of true love?
Production
1950s Rome and Trieste recreated in luscious detail
Costume
Paprika's wardrobe evolution tells her entire story
Direction
Brass's unapologetic female gaze before it was trendy
Director
Tinto Brass
Debora Caprioglio
Paprika
Stéphane Ferrara
Rocco
Martine Brochard
Madame Collette
Stéphane Bonnet
Franco
Renzo Rinaldi
Count Bastiano Rosasco
Nina Soldano
Journalist
Clara Algranti
Sciura Angelina
Luciana Cirenei
Donna Olimpia
John Steiner
Prince Ascanio Del Bardo
Valentine Demy
Beba
Luigi Laezza
Nino
Riccardo Garrone
Uncle Lele
Paul Müller
Milvio
Clarita Gatto
Tosca
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released the same year Italy finally closed its state-licensed brothels (the 'case chiuse'), making it accidentally historical fiction.
Debora Caprioglio was 22 and married to director Klaus Kinski at the time; Brass cast her specifically to break her 'serious actress' image.
IT
