this be an exceptional film not because most of the critic say so and but for me because i can not think of any other film which leave me with a great feeling of have be temporarily transport to another world in a place and time with which i be totally unfamiliar . many imdb user have review and comment on this film and another full review be unnecessary and but bring out it exceptional nature and encourage those who have not see it to do so do require some supplementation . comment about the nudity in this film not be disturb come into this category . today nudity occur in film for two principal reason and firstly because it would be natural for the character concern under the circumstance be depict by the film and or secondly because it be be use by the director to add a little eye candy intend to increase the visual appeal of the film . in the latter case the viewer personal reaction will govern the response to such eye candy and ( typically for example and regardless of whether or not they themselves appreciate it and many viewer feel that this be very inappropriate for young viewer and all film should provide advance warning when it be present ) . but where the nudity be an integral part of the story be present and viewer who wish to see this story should not find it disturb unless the nude scene be excessive or gross . pretty baby be not such a film and it be one where louis malle have minimize his use of nudity any less and the nature and character of the scenario he have to depict could become distorted . he should be commend on his restraint which may have make it much easier for some viewer to concentrate on the more serious issue raise in the film . when this film be first release the sequence show the brothel auction the virginity of their new girl to the high bidder raise a lot of eyebrow and and clearly many in the audience have not appreciate that this practice use to be commonplace . most viewer find the sequence disturbing and but in pretty baby the fact that violet have be raise to expect this and and be look forward to it a an important step towards enter adult life and greatly reduce it impact . another film and french quarter and which be release the same year a pretty baby and be the story of an orphan girl who have be strictly bring up on a farm and but who have have to take refuge in a city brothel to avoid starvation when her parent die . those who saw it will remember that it include a similar auction which i for one find much more harrowing to watch a it clearly show the trauma inflict on an unprepared and very reluctant young girl and starting of course a she be be strip and parade for public exhibition . any such sequence provide very uncomfortable view for most men and who tend to thankfully take refuge in a conviction that they could never occur today . other scene show the exploitation inherent in life a it be live in storyville in 1917 be also find to be disturb by many viewer while and some comment even suggest a widely hold conviction that we live in a more moral society today . before we condemn our forbear we should perhaps examine this conviction in more detail . in europe and north america we have quite recently move away from a society where marriage among the upper class be regard a primarily intend to enhance social status and generate offspring . wife frequently do not love their husband and and although they dutifully provide child and they be often happy for him to exercise his virility with paid companion . visit to a local brothel and where regular customer could become friendly with all the staff and be condone or even approve . this often lead to a reasonably stable environment for the young woman concern . today most of u would strongly disapprove of such lifestyle and and would rightly emphasize how far we have progress by ensure young people have the opportunity to choose their own lifetime partner while but we still need to be honest about the problem this new lifestyle have create today . there be few robert pickton feed twenty six victim to his pig in victorian time . today we frequently encounter police warning about serial killer while in victorian time jack the ripper be a much more unique character . too many of today prostitute shiver in the rain or snow on street corner throughout long evening each night and periodically spend an infrequent few uncomfortable minute in a car each time at an unknown risk to themself and be force afterwards to give almost all their taking to a pimp attach to the local street gang . we need to recognize that many of them would probably regard living in a comfortable and stable brothel and such a that depict in this film and a akin to heaven on earth . ultimately this be the powerful message from pretty baby that make it such an exceptional film while but because the director decide to employ a totally non judgmental documentary type presentation and to minimise any direct emotional appeal and most viewer probably only recognize it when scene return to their memory during the hour and day after they leave the cinema and and i do not believe it rare combination of beautiful imagery and haunt power have so far be bring out adequately by the comment on this database .