“Special Treatment” is an offbeat take on a serious theme. An underdeveloped screenplay is uplifted by the cast’s performances, specifically; French iconic actress Isabelle Huppert’s portrayal of a high priced hooker. The scenario compares two contrasting professions— prostitution and psychotherapy: a prostitute and a psychiatrist each perform a service for paying clients seeking satisfaction. One violent john causes an uptight, frustrated Alice Bergerac (Huppert) to want to quit whoring and seek therapy. Psychoanalyst Xavier Demestre’s (Bouli Lanners) troubled marriage and absent wife leaves him desiring the services of a prostitute. Upon meeting, Alice and Xavier each gives what the other wants, and in-between sessions of sex and therapy, there’s an outpouring of emotions.
An oddity of a movie, co-screenwriter-director Jeanne Labrune’s theme is intriguing and has potential yet is unfulfilled. Throughout, Isabelle Huppert is fascinating in her characterization and she dominates the screen in a stirring performance. (Spoken in French with English subtitles)
