Valérie is a 1969 black-and-white Canadian erotic film directed by Denis Héroux. It was the first Quebec film to show nudity. It turned an unprecedented gross of $1.68 million, making it the highest-grossing Canadian film of its time.[1]
Plot
Danielle Ouimet upon leaving a convent with the leader of a motorcycle gang, discovers the hippie culture of Montreal and turns to prostitution. This improbable storyline, made famous by the frank display of nudity and sexuality, came from a culture that was still labouring under a strong sense of Catholic guilt. It was the first of a group of films known as maple-syrup porn.[1]
Production
Valérie was filmed in August and September 1968, with a budget of $99,000 (equivalent to $827,282 in 2023).[2]
Release
The film was released in Montreal on 2 May 1969, by Cinépix, the producer and distributor.[2] It was the highest-grossing of all-time in Canada with a gross of $1,684,000[3] and earned $2 million (equivalent to $15,949,239 in 2023) after being shown in forty countries.[4] It was the most attended Quebec film since Little Aurore's Tragedy.[4] The film was seen by 153,734 people in France.[5]
