Marta García and Sol Infante Zamudio's documentary revolves around Karina Nuñez, a middle-aged sex worker--45 at the time of filming--committed to destigmatizing and securing legal protections for women in her profession. Since 2002, prostitution in Uruguay has been legally recognized, if poorly regulated, as sex work.
Karina, a fourth-generation sex worker, has worked as a hooker (her term) since she was 12. As she explains, it's been impossible for her to find any other kind of job–even as a cleaning woman–not because she isn't capable, but because of her lack of formal education and work experience, even though she's intelligent and charismatic. She adds that her primary service is to listen. Most clients simply want someone they can talk to; she jokes that she's a "psycho-sexologist."
García and Infante build their directorial debut around Karina's 2018 founding of OTRAS (Spanish for "others"), an organization made up of past and present sex workers. "Information is power, girls," she says at their first meeting, while pointing out that skirmishes between women–battles over boyfriends, turf, etc.--only makes a precarious situation worse.
"On our own, none of us will make it," she concludes, while making it clear, at a later meeting, that membership isn't welcome to anyone involved with sex trafficking, the prostitution of minors, or any kind of oppressive labor.
As the film goes on, García and Infante provide more information about Karina, who has five kids, enjoys dancing, and doesn't drink or smoke, though it isn't clear if she's ever been married or partnered, but she values inclusivity, and her organization includes both cisgender and trans women of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The filmmakers also show her at home putting on makeup, getting her hair done at a former sex worker's salon, guesting on a chat show, and at work, wearing low-cut outfits while standing on a meridian as trucks lumber by. She sings, sways, and flirts with the passing drivers, though she seems especially vulnerable, since it's late at night and there's no one else around.
García and Infante concentrate on the here and now, presenting a portrait of her day-to-day life as an organizer, speaker, friend, neighbor, and mother. In the documentary, she proves she definitely has what it takes to become a full-time activist.
As the film ends, Karina is still involved with sex work, but in the years since, she's left to lead over 2,000 workshops, publish nine books, consult on institutional assessments, and make numerous public appearances. In 2024, she was even named a Distinguished Citizen of Montevideo. She turned 52 that year, and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. Recommended.
Why should public libraries consider adding this sex work documentary to their collections?
This documentary offers a rare and nuanced perspective on sex work as a labor rights issue, making it a valuable addition to collections focused on social justice, women’s studies, and Latin American history. By profiling Karina Nuñez and the founding of OTRAS, the film provides an intimate look at the intersection of poverty, systemic lack of education, and the struggle for legal protections in Uruguay. Nuñez’s transformation from a fourth-generation sex worker to a "Distinguished Citizen of Montevideo" and a prolific author provides a powerful narrative of resilience and institutional change. Libraries catering to patrons interested in grassroots activism, labor reform, or intersectional feminism will find this portrait of a charismatic "psycho-sexologist" turned activist to be both informative and deeply humanizing.
Is this sex work documentary suitable for community or classroom screenings?
Yes, particularly for academic settings and specialized community groups. The film is exceptionally well-suited for university-level courses in sociology, human rights, and political science, as it draws a clear distinction between voluntary sex work and oppressive labor like human trafficking or the exploitation of minors. Its focus on the day-to-day realities of organizing—emphasizing that "information is power"—makes it an excellent springboard for discussions on collective bargaining, the importance of formal education, and the legal recognition of marginalized professions. While the mature subject matter and scenes of street-based work require a mature audience, the documentary’s avoidance of sensationalism in favor of a "here and now" portrait of activism makes it an effective tool for sparking dialogue on social reform and human dignity.
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