A semi-autobiographical film from writer/director/star Numa Perrier, Jezebel tells the down-to-earth story of a young woman who gets into sex work to support herself and her family who are living on the poverty line.
Shot in the exact same apartment where Perrier herself lived while working as a webcam girl in her late adolescence, she plays older sister Sabrina, who struggles to keep the family in check. All crammed into a 1-bed with her boyfriend and brother blowing more money on gambling than they make back, Sabrina’s younger sister Tiffany feels the pressure to go out and earn some money to contribute.
On Sabrina’s tip, Tiffany shows up at a webcam girl studio not totally knowing what it will entail or what she’s meant to do, but thrown straight in front of the camera, she finally starts to grow more confident in herself and her ability, just as live back home starts to unravel.
A frank and wholely unglamorous look at the life of a sex worker, in Jezebel there’s no titilation, voyeurism or shame, just a woman going to the office, doing a job, going home, it just happens that her job is being a webcam girl.
It’s a film that feels honest and authentic, with Numa Perrier translating her own experiences with real care and nuance. This is a film about how the characters are feeling, about their struggle, about terrible boyfriends, and just doing what you can, and the superb performance from Tiffany Tenille in the lead role is integral to the film’s success, selling Numa’s story at every step and growing in the role as the film goes on.
Jezebel isn’t your average coming-of-age tale, and as such doesn’t hit all the beats you might expect. That’s good, in the sense that Jezebel feels fresh and original, but might not be quite as rounded or satisfying as other films in the g enre. But this is a film that wants to break the mould, break expectations, and is a real stick in the sand that signifies Numa Perrier as a real name to watch over the coming years.