Comedy
United States of America
Polyester is a 1981 American comedy film directed by John Waters and starring Divine, Tab Hunter, and Edith Massey. The film follows the life of Francine Fishpaw, a hausfrau who discovers that her life is not as perfect as it seems. Her husband, Elmer, is a notorious pornographer and is unfaithful to her. Her daughter, Lu-Lu, gets pregnant by her delinquent boyfriend while her son, Dexter, is suspected of being a foot-fetishist who has been breaking local women's feet.
Francine's life gets more complicated as she gets to know Todd Tomorrow, her daughter's boyfriend, who works as a foot fetishist. Todd Tomorrow is an attractive man who provides solace for Francine in a life full of disappointments. Francine decides to divorce her husband, but he refuses, leading to a series of comical events that include kidnapping and murder.
The film is known for its use of Odorama, a process in which viewers are given scratch-and-sniff cards to smell certain scents during the film. These scents correspond to specific scenes, such as the smell of roses during a romantic moment or the stench of dirty socks during a gross-out scene.
Overall, Polyester is a satirical commentary on suburban life, family values, and American consumer culture. It takes a humorous approach to serious subject matter and is a classic example of John Waters' unique filmmaking style.
