Jean-Daniel Cadinot Pornography Review

Vic Bell | Kāi Tahu | She/Her

When discussing classic French cinema, his name may not come up as often as François Truffaut or Jean-Luc Godard, but Jean-Daniel Cadinot’s original approach to filmmaking shaped the landscape of the 80s and 90s. Born in Paris, Cadinot formally trained as a photographer before transitioning to moving film in the 1970s. He was a pioneer in his genre, directing films that were beautifully shot and emphasised realism. Often casting unknowns, Cadinot used a collaborative approach and allowed his actors a long leash to produce more natural performances. In case it is not clear, Cadinot was a pornographer. This is a pornography review. 

Disclaimer: I don’t speak a lick of French and Pornhub doesn’t offer subtitles so take my synopses with a grain of salt.

5. Service Actif (1990)

Now, this is your stereotypical vintage pornography. “Oh no we’re in the middle of the jungle and there are no women around, whatever shall we do”. Everyone loves a man in uniform and this is a great place to start with Cadinot. Although the acting is not at all subtle, there is a coherent plot and Cadinot is a master at building tension. Some of the scenes are a bit too violent for my taste, but I award points for the inclusion of a pillow fight.

4. Sacré Collège! (1983)

I’m not usually one for period pieces, but this film set in a strict 1950s boarding school is excellent. Every detail is carefully considered, from the costuming to the stately building the school is set in, to the demeanour of the head teacher. Cadinot experiments with a range of film treatments, using grainy sepia to better evoke the time period. In stark comparison with his other boarding school film
Les Minets Sauvages, here the covert sexual interactions are affectionate and tender—a celebration of freedom in a restrictive environment. Where Sauvages was lord of the flies, Sacré Collège is the boys of ‘Ata.

3. Aime… Comme Minet (1982)

Probably the most disjointed of Cadinot’s repertoire, we are given a meta look at the lives of the young men Cadinot cast in his films. Opening with a casting call, the film jumps between the audition present day and the youths’ memories that we assume he is drawing upon to… inspire his performance. The vignettes are chronological, showing his first sexual experience (in a bakery of all places), his first boyfriend, and his dalliances with public cruising on the banks of the Seine.

2. Pressbook (1996)

I truly struggled with ranking the top two entries. One of his most ambitious films, Cadinot assembled a large international cast for an inside look at the Parisian fashion industry. Every character is well developed with their own story arc. I became so emotionally invested in these characters I was genuinely upset when the hairdresser cheats on his boyfriend. There is employment exploitation, domestic life, infidelity, prostitution, and friendship. If you are looking for lingering shots of fully-clothed beautiful men eating soup, this is the film for you.

1. Gamins De Paris (1992)

The crème de la crème of plot-driven pornography. Set in the 1940s, a youth runs away from his prestigious boarding school for the bright lights of Paris. The authentic costumes and set dressing are gorgeous. I appreciated the choice of a 1940s soundtrack, rather than the usual bass-heavy porno music that would really break my immersion. Despite the lead’s utter lack of facial expression, Cadinot masterfully pulls us into the excitement of this coming of age story.  Adrian Vassiliu steals the show in his fourteen minutes of screentime. Smoking in bed has never looked so good.