At the time of filming, Brooke Shields was only 11 years old. The inclusion of nude scenes and the film’s central theme of child sexual exploitation sparked immediate international outrage:
The narrative follows Violet’s desensitization to her environment, culminating in a disturbing sequence where her virginity is auctioned off to the highest bidder. After her mother marries a wealthy client and moves away, Violet enters into a complex, quasi-marital relationship with Bellocq. The film ends with Hattie returning to "claim" Violet as the district is shut down by reformers, forcibly moving her toward a more conventional life. Brooke Shields and the "Pretty Baby" Controversy Pretty Baby - 1978 - Starring Brooke Shields - ...
: The film was banned in various Canadian provinces, including Ontario and Saskatchewan, until 1995. It was also banned in Argentina and South Africa for several years. At the time of filming, Brooke Shields was only 11 years old
: Critics like Rona Barrett labeled the film "child pornography," and director Louis Malle was heavily criticized for his "continental" and seemingly detached treatment of the subject. The film ends with Hattie returning to "claim"