Bibliothèque Pascal (2010)

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A mother's struggle to support her child leads her into a surreal netherworld of sex and danger in this drama from Hungarian filmmaker Szabolcs Hajdu. Mona Paparu (Orsolya Torok-Illyes) is a single mother who has been left to raise her daughter Viorica (Lujza Hajdu) on her own, only to have her… More A mother's struggle to support her child leads her into a surreal netherworld of sex and danger in this drama from Hungarian filmmaker Szabolcs Hajdu. Mona Paparu (Orsolya Torok-Illyes) is a single mother who has been left to raise her daughter Viorica (Lujza Hajdu) on her own, only to have her fitness as a parent called into question by her aunt Rodica (Oana Pellea). Forced to answer Rodica's charges in a meeting with Child Protective Service authorities, Mona tells the long, convoluted tale of how she fell in with Viorel (Andi Vasluianu), a charming but sinister underworld figure, in order to provide for her daughter. As Mona falls into debt to Viorel, he puts her to work in a variety of illegal enterprises, finally ending up in the Bibliotheque Pascal, an elegant but bizarre house of prostitution in which men can re-enact sexual scenarios inspired by great works of literature for a hefty fee. But not all of Viorel's customers are paying for up-market sex -- some are interested in brutal violence and even death. Bibliotheque Pascal was an official selection at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi