Today, pornography is as perennial as the grass. Log onto any smartphone or computer or flip through the upper cable channels on your TV, and there it is.
But back in 1972, porn was anything but commonplace. In the early 70s it was relegated to seedy backrooms and adult theaters.
That is until an X-rated film called “Deep Throat” attracted mainstream attention, making its star, Linda Lovelace, a household name.
As America’s first real porn superstar, Lovelace was both celebrated as a symbol of sexual liberation and derided for participating in the objectification of women.
Despite her stardom, Lovelace never set out to be a star. Her back story was much more complicated and, at times, tragic.
The new film, “Lovelace,” starring Amanda Seyfried, tells the story of both her public and private life around the time “Deep Throat” was released. Its directors, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, explain what went into their new biopic, and how Lovelace’s survivors feel about it.
Watch a short video interview with Epstein and Friedman here.
Â
The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!