What do you say when your ex wants to adapt your graphic novel into a movie? Acclaimed cartoonist Chester Brown said yes—and now the moving story of his relationship with Sook-Yin Lee has premiered at TIFF.

Paying for It, directed and co-written by Lee, is an adaptation of Brown’s best-selling graphic novel of the same name. Set in 1990s Toronto, the film centres on Chester and Sonny (a slightly fictionalized version of Lee)— and the events that unfold when they redefine their relationship, and Chester begins sleeping with sex workers. 

The film stars Dan Beirne (Priscilla, Ginny & Georgia), emerging actor Emily Lê (Riceboy Sleeps), and acclaimed activist, author and performer Andrea Werhun. It explores the nuances of love, sex and intimacy—how they can intersect or exist separately, and how often stigmatized expressions of intimacy — like sex work and non-monogamy—can be just as fulfilling, complex, and meaningful as romantic love.

“What constitutes a meaningful connection? Is it possible to have one if you’re paying for sex? Or, just because you’re in a monogamous relationship, does it mean you love each other more? We want love, but it can seem hard to find and nurture,” writes Lee.  

Paying For It opens with the proclamation that Sonny is in love with someone else. Chester is disoriented—he still loves Sonny, but he doesn’t want another romantic relationship. After some thorough research, he decides to try paying for sex. The women he meets all have their own dynamic stories and circumstances. Some encounters are strange, some are solely transactional, and others are warm, friendly, and eye-opening. It takes some adjustment for both Sonny and Chester as they navigate this new dynamic while still living together. “These are sexually and romantically progressive people, but once reality hits, it’s never as you expect it,” writes Lê. “It’s scary at first.”  

While the film revolves around Brown’s experiences, it was important to Lee and co-writer Joanne Sarazen to include the perspectives of the women in this story. “I wanted to push perceptions around consensual sex work and allow sex-worker perspectives to shine through,” writes Lee. 

Werhun, who wrote an eye-opening piece for SheDoesTheCity in 2022 about the importance of sex worker storytelling, plays a sex worker who develops a connection with Chester. She notes that Paying For It adds an important perspective to conversations about sex work. 

“It is both rare and brave for someone like Chester Brown to reveal his proclivities for paying providers of sexual labour, without dehumanizing them in the process,” writes Werhun. “It is important for clients to find the courage to speak openly about why they choose to pay for sex and defend sex workers in their fight for equality and labour rights.” 

The indie comic and music scenes of 1990s Toronto is a character itself in Paying For It. The characters learn about themselves against the backdrops of MuchMusic and an indie comic convention—vibrant settings that will evoke nostalgia in many local viewers. Plus, you’ll be treated to some throwback tracks — songs from Ghetto Concept, V.I.P., Vypers, Thrush Hermit, and other iconic Canadian artists are featured in the film, and you may recognize some scenes shot at Sneaky Dee’s and Kensington Market.

Sook-Yin Lee. Photo by Dylan Gamble

More than 30 years later, Lee still describes Brown as her best friend. “They still very much live with those memories and those ideas in their lives. Sook-Yin has all the presents he made her, and she still lives in the same house where this all took place,” writes Beirne. “We see these two people go through the ebbs and flows and find their way back to each other,” adds Lê. “These two people really do love each other.”

A project that might have been a nightmare for another pair of exes is a quietly mature creative exchange between Lee and Brown, as Lee builds on his story, adding her own perspective on their relationship, and reflecting on their compelling journey back to friendship. 

This fall, a re-issue of Brown’s novel Paying For It will be released, with tie-ins to the film, and a beautifully penned intro by Lee— a full-circle conclusion to this creative exchange between two long-time friends.