A small-town girl with big-city dreams, 18-year-old Pauleen Anderson (Jonna Lee) arrives in Hollywood, where the blue-eyed blonde hopes to launch a high-paying modeling career. Beginning with topless photos but soon making the move into hardcore porn, Pauleen becomes one of the biggest names in the business. But success has its price, as her struggles with guilt, drugs and her family's shame slowly drive the young woman toward the edge. Inspired by true events and co-starring Melinda Dillon as Pauleen's disapproving mother and John Pleshette as her lover/would-be protector, Shattered Innocence pulls no punches in its depiction of a troubled girl's hard choices. With compelling performances and balanced direction by Sandor Stern, it compares favorably with similarly themed movies like Star 80 and Boogie Nights.
