“Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal” premieres tonight on HBO, telling the story of the famous Hollywood Madam as she struggles to open a brothel for female clients.

Even though it may seem a superficial documentary topic, at first sight, Fleiss’ idea is actually quite revolutionary. After decades of sexual exploitation of women, whether it was voluntary or not, here comes the day when a woman opens a brothel where men sell their bodies. It may not be the first time we hear of male prostitutes, but it is the first time such a big fuss is made about it.

Heidi Fleiss is familiar with the movie world, having been the subject of a documentary made by Nick Broomfield in 1995, as well as of a 2004 movie, titled “Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss,” in which the role of Fleiss was played by actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler. So Fleiss is already popular as the operator of a high-end prostitution ring, who catered to Hollywood actors, including Charlie Sheen. A lot of people panicked in Hollywood when Fleiss threatened to reveal names from her coveted black book, and they all felt relieved when she changed her mind.

Fleiss’ time in prison and her drug issues were very well-documented as well, so HBO chose to base their documentary on the latest move of the Hollywood madam: the brothel for women’s pleasure.

The brothel, which Fleiss calls “The Stud Farm,” is to be built in the town of Crystal, Nevada, where prostitution is legal, but still a controversial subject. Fleiss spent $42,000 on the 60-acre area where the brothel is to be built.

Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato make 42-year-old Fleiss seem somehow fresh and pleasant, in spite of her agitated past and her recent unflattering cosmetic surgery.

“She's very smart — even her addiction doesn't dim her intellectual powers,” Bailey said, as quoted by USA Today. “She has a direct, focused business take, even at her messiest.”

Willing to show she has nothing to hide, Fleiss confessed to USA Today that she agreed to appear in the documentary for money. She said she was paid $250,000, but HBO and the filmmakers refused to confirm.

Fleiss used to be a millionaire in the past, until she was arrested in June 1993 on felony charges. She was sentenced to 37 months in prison for tax evasion and pandering, but she only served 21. She is now the owner of “Dirty Laundry,” a Laundromat in Pahrump, Nevada, which she plans to expand to other areas.

The documentary that will debut tonight on HBO follows Fleiss’ work on the project for 10 months, depicting the multiple faces of the former Hollywood Madam. She is shown arguing with area residents, who are more than skeptical about their new neighbor, as well as followed in her struggle to defeat her methamphetamine addiction. Fleiss is both supported or disapproved of by local residents. Still, she manages to befriend her next-door neighbour, a retired lady who is a fan of exotic birds.

During an on-camera interview, Fleiss proudly declares she has been sober for eight days and tries to convince that she is “really taking it seriously.” No matter how much she delayed the brothel’s opening, she says, she is confident that she’ll finish the project.