Upskirt: About the film

Julia, a forty-something madam, runs a fetish salon called “Fetish and Fantasy” in a Sydney town house. “Fetish and Fantasy” is a unique establishment, a no sex, no nudity salon; it is not a dungeon, and does not offer the usual S & M or B & D. It caters for niché fetishes: foot, shoe, latex, jean, uniform, pantyhose, lipstick, leg, wet shoes, washing hair, and upskirt.

When Sara, a struggling young actor fresh out of acting school starts working there she views the job as acting practice and blessed relief from waitressing. With the help of Julia’s loyal employee Cassandra, Sara learns the ropes, first with a “lipstick client” for whom she performs the application of lipstick, then for a “pantyhose client” for whom she models pantyhose, and then for a “shoe client” who worships her feet and shoes. Her initial reticence is soon replaced by the joy of role-play and her discovery of a potent new avenue for sexual power.

But when the unusual and intriguing “Upskirt Client” shows up — an attractive, middle-aged writer — she breaks the rules, and tests the emotional waters. Sara attends his book launch uninvited, but leaves feeling humiliated and rejected when he ignores and avoids her. On the eve of her departure from the salon to take up an acting job, the Upskirt Client reappears.

UPSKIRT is a short drama. It speaks with humour and compassion to our desire to be seen and appreciated beyond the roles we take for money.