Blue Balloon
A Danish production of the early 1970s, the film clearly illustrates that Europeans are in no way more œcivilized? than garbage-minded Americans. While European soft-core has a reputation for high-gloss and soft-focus, œThe Blue Balloon? proves that Euro-XXX can be as grimy and hard-hitting as our own backstreet variety. A young couple is seen in a passionate embrace in the middle of a field; they are obviously in love. We learn quickly, however, that they are about to be separated: the young bride (they were recently married) weeps convincingly as her hubby boards a waiting bus. The girl is approached, however, by a nefarious looking dyke, obviously a pander who picks up defenseless chicks at the local bus station. She slips the girl a Mickey and spirits her away in a sports car to what appears to be the interior of a garage “ with a bed in it. So begins the girls nightmarish decent into a life of degradation and prostitution.