Bellocq is Malle’s surrogate, and through him, the film asks a brutal question: What is the difference between an artist documenting exploitation and a client participating in it? When Bellocq photographs Violet nude or in ambiguous poses, the camera lingers. We, the audience, become Bellocq. We are watching a child, framed beautifully, under the guise of art. That self-implication is the film’s lasting power. It refuses to let us look away or feel superior.
The film sparked immediate and lasting public outcry due to its depiction of child sexual exploitation and the inclusion of nude scenes involving Shields, who was 11 during production. Critical Praise : Despite the controversy, critics like Roger Ebert pretty baby 1978 film