The Girlfriend Experience, or GFE, is the name of a very special type of service offered by sex workers. When men want not just the physical act of sex, but a girl to treat them like the man they love, they request The Girlfriend Experience. Steven Soderbergh made the term famous this summer with his film of the same name, starring real-life porn star Sasha Grey. Illuminating another side of the issue is Vancouver indie filmmaker Ileana Pietrobruno. Her ‘Girlfriend Experience’ concentrates on the other half of the prostitution equation: the johns. She tells the tale of a young man who puts his relationship in jeopardy by refusing to stop frequenting prostitutes, particularly his favourite, a Girlfriend Experience specialist. When Pacific Cinematheque told Pietrobruno they wanted to screen her film, she suggested they supplement it by showing Soderbergh’s as well, and presenting a full spectrum of not just the issue itself, but how it can be interpreted artistically. Pietrobruno says making this film made her like men more-we’re intrigued. Read our review of Soderbergh’s film here.

The double bill screens September 2-3, at 7:30 pm.