A Lady's Guide to Brothels

Sunday July 17at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network

Legalizing brothels may not seem like an issue the Women's Institute of Hampshire would take on, but in a style reminiscent of the "Calendar Girls", best friends Jean Johnson and Shirley Landels decide they're game to take their campaign to reform prostitution laws on-the-road in search of the 'perfect' brothel. Traveling from their home in Middle England to Amsterdam, Nevada, and New Zealand, the two British grannies offer us a pragmatic, often blushing, and sometimes hilarious insight into the sex industry.

Jean and Shirley look like they'd be more comfortable on the English tea circuit than hanging out in sex shops and brothels, but alarmed by the growing number of prostitutes being beaten up or killed, they decide to team up with journalist Nicky Taylor to find out what makes for a safer working environment for working girls.

Jean and Shirley travel to the infamous red light district in Amsterdam where they experience what it feels like to work in a legal window brothel, to Nevada where they don fluffy pink bath-robes and line up with the girls at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch. On the ranch, the two meet "Air Force Amy", a bunny who is more than happy to demonstrate her signature sex act. The final stop on their world tour takes them to New Zealand, where they experience the luxury of an upmarket prostitution co-op. Back in England, journalist Nicky Taylor immerses herself in the sex industry to experience the reality of life for women working on the streets, in 'dance' clubs, and illegal brothels.

Finally armed with their new-found sex education, Jean and Shirley reunite with Nicky to create and road-test their version of the perfect brothel before taking their campaign to the streets.

A Lady's Guide to Brothels is directed and produced by Helen Simpson for Renegade Pictures in the U.K.