THE FILM

The Sarnos – A Life in Dirty Movies is a love story about legendary sexploitation director Joe Sarno, “The Ingmar Bergman of 42nd Street”, and his loyal wife and collaborator Peggy.

The film follows The Sarnos for a year, as 88-year old Joe is struggling to get a new film project off the ground, a female-centered softcore film in his old style. Following in Joe and Peggy’s footsteps we are taken on an exciting and often hilarious journey, between a wintery Manhattan and the couple’s summer retreat in Sweden. This is intercut with a look back on the dramatic events that shaped Joe and Peggy’s lives, and through their very personal story we chronicle how sexploitation evolved in to hardcore, and Joe’s significant place in this history as an erotic “auteur” whose ambitions as a filmmaker often surpassed the needs of the genre he was working in.The Sarnos – A Life in Dirty Movies is a funny and touching portrait of a unique couple who has followed their passion in life – no matter the cost!