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Pornography has never been as widely available or consumed as it is today; it’s not news. Yet shame tucks it away, keeping the porn industry from the public discourse. We repress, we hide from reality. The public bases their image of the business on the occasional censored TV special and, of course, the stereotypes. A liberated portrayal is far from the view of an abashed society. This is what Jens Hoffman’s unrated documentary on the people in porn, 9 to 5: Days in Porn, attempts to correct.

Moments of bias can’t be entirely escaped in the editing room, but 9 to 5 is all in all merely observant. Hoffman surrenders the podium to the veterans and newbies of the industry, allowing the voice of the film to be solely that of the insiders.

Like all great documentaries the movie owes its success to its subjects: Otto Bauer and Audrey Hollander, the porno couple, challenge middle-America’s perception of marriage every time they fuck other people on porn sets. A controlling Otto is content with the status quo, while the film strongly suggests Audrey is struggling inside, comprising for love. But rookie Sasha Grey and her boyfriend are happy. Hoffman catches Grey on her rise as the game changer in the industry. She’s the idealist with conviction and a self-described fuck junkie. Gaging on cock, slimy with saliva and semen, Sasha Grey makes her competition Mia Rose look prissy. Rose admits she’s not sure what she wants in life. Roxy Deville could care less, distancing herself from the biz, only performing for the paycheck. But Katja Kassan is the real pro; she’s up for anything that’ll pay. Belladonna (mother, wife, porn star and Sasha Grey’s inspiration), then, is the fulcrum of the featured stars.

The sleaziest looking character is not a pornographer but the valley’s most sought-out agent, Mark Spiegler. In actuality he’s the most professional and is kind enough to house aspiring starlets. Jim Powers, punk rocker turned overexcited porn director, refers to him as a pimp. On his own work Powers laughs, “I just work in a shit factory and I keep on pumping it out.” John Stagliano a fellow peddler of obscenity explains that they’re only producing what people demand.

Dr. Sharon Mitchell is probably the voice with the most clout. She was a burnt-out porn star before getting her Ph.D. in human sexuality and starting AIM (industry’s health care). Dr. Mitchell offers some of the harshest criticisms, but does it with care as Hoffman labels her “The Good Soul”.

Porn connoisseurs will recognize other faces: Lorelei Lee, Ava Rose, Jonni Darkko, and Nina Hartley. Kimberly Kane and Andrew Blake, unfortunately, get one line each.

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