Coming Soon

Paying For It

Directed by Sook-Yin Lee
Film Movement
2024
85 Minutes
Canada
English
Comedy
Not Rated

In the late 90s, Chester and Sonny are a long-term, committed, romantic couple. When Sonny wants to redefine their relationship, Chester, an introverted cartoonist, starts sleeping with sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy in the process. Adapted from the acclaimed alternative-cartoonist Chester Brown’s best-selling graphic novel, PAYING FOR IT is a comedy about love, sex and non-monogamy for adults.

Director & Cast

  • Director: Sook-Yin Lee
  • Starring: Emily Lê
  • Starring: Dan Beirne​​
  • Starring: Andrea Werhun​​

Where to Watch

Photos

Reviews

  • "Provocative, hilarious and heartfelt."
    Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail
  • "With a distinctive voice that captures the contrasting desire for companionship with strictly carnal, no-strings-attached intimacy, the biggest triumph of “Paying For It” is the empathy it shows the sex workers themselves"
    Ally Johnson, The Playlist
  • "Quirky, thought-provoking and often explicit."
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes
  • "Displays a maturity and thoughtfulness (...) revels in the messy contradictions we may hold about love. It’s evident that Lee is already a master of tension and finding humor within people’s inconsistencies...."
    Zachary Lee, RogerEbert.com
  • "Lee and co-writer Joanne Sarazen do an admirable job of depicting – and destigmatising – the ins-and-outs of urban sex work...."
    Adam Nayman, Sight & Sound
  • "A welcome surprise and a revelation. “Paying For It" isn’t the movie you’d expect. But, it’s one you might love."
    Kristy Strouse, Film Inquiry
  • "A provocative new film, ‘Paying for It,’ takes an unflinching look at sex work and love...."
    Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Nominated
Platform Award
Toronto Int'l. Film Festival
Nominated
Established Producer Award
CMPA IndieScreen Awards