WORKING GIRLS

US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Louise Smith, Ellen Mc Elduff, Amanda Goodwin.
Directed by Lizzie Borden.

Working Girls is the first feature by Lizzie Borden, documentary film-maker and director of the crime thriller Love Crimes. It is a day in a small brothel in New York City, focusing on Molly, a college graduate who works in the brothel, is imposed on by the clients as well as Lucy, the garrulous and demanding madam of the establishment. Forced to do an extra shift, Molly finally decides to leave the brothel. Other prostitutes include Gina, Dawn - a prostitute from the streets from her earliest years who also decides to leave. April is a veteran prostitute and Mary is on her first day. The film also focuses on the range of clients who come to the brothel. It is a small establishment, the women treat the men with courtesy (though critical behind their backs). The film offers a study of the women as women, a portrait of a range of women who have decided to be working girls for a variety of reasons. The film does not take a judgmental point of view, rather presents the realities of life in the brothel for audience observation and for drawing their own conclusions. The actresses are particularly convincing in their roles. The direction is excellent, focusing on the place, the people, the relationship between prostitutes and clients.

1.Impact of the film? Portrait of prostitutes in a brothel? Non-judgmental? An attempt to portray the situation realistically and with human sympathy?

2.The film and its interiors (very few exteriors)? The audience experiencing Molly's day in the brothel, the long day? The reception room, the rooms upstairs? The focus on profiles, close-ups? The dialogue - and its spontaneity, improvisation? The musical score?

3.The title, the term used by the women themselves? The word "prostitute" not used? The derogatory use of the word "whore"?

4.The structure with the day in the brothel, the day shift and the night shift? The focus on Molly and following her through the day, seeing only Molly with the clients upstairs? Sharing Molly's experience, her decision to be a prostitute, the hardships, Lucy manipulating her to stay in the evening, her final exasperation and leaving?

5.Molly as a character: her education background, her relationship with Diane? Cycling to work? Talking with the others? The range of clients, courtesy, accommodating yet reserved? Sympathetic listening to their stories? The sexual encounters? Hygiene? The discussions with the others, backgrounds, motivations? Lunch? Lucy arriving back, her chatter, her impositions on the girls? Molly and her being manipulated to stay later? Her weariness, the other clients? Her unfailing courtesy? The bath, her getting courage to confront Lucy, her deciding to leave? The phone call to Diane? Leaving the brothel - riding the bicycle in the open air and her sense of relief? Her future?

6.Gina, glamour, sympathy? Answering the phone? Accommodating? Gina as her professional name? Reactions to Lucy? Sympathy for Dawn?

7.Dawn, her age, on the streets, her lack of class? Moodiness? With the clients? Her angers, clashes with Lucy? Slovenliness? Her decision to leave?

8.April, the older woman, her experience? The night shift?

9.Mary, her first day, Molly showing her around? Her nervousness? Her decision to be a prostitute? Her first client, wanting Molly to come as well? Her hesitations? Her phone call from her son?

10.Debbie, black prostitute, coming for the interview with Lucy? The clients not asking for her? Her sensitive reaction?

11.Lucy, the girls talking about her in her absence? Her background? Her style, clothes, manner of speaking? Garrulous, critical? Wanting everything in order? Her phone voice and being accommodating? Her love of shopping, her relationship with Miles? His turning up and their going out? Her checking on the girls, the phone calls and the phone on hold? Her criticisms, clashes with Dawn and her leaving? Manipulative with Molly staying the evening? Her concern about money? Portrait of a madam? Her concern about the girls, cleanliness, atmosphere of welcome, offering the clients a drink, hygiene?

12.Miles, his relationship with Lucy, at home in the brothel, friendship with the girls? His relationship with his wife? The gift of the car, Lucy wanting the watch?

13.The range of clients: professional men, elderly men? Their making appointments, arrival, wanting to talk about their achievements? Their drinks, going upstairs, their techniques for making the client comfortable? The sexual encounters? The audience seeing only the encounters with Molly? The men comfortable and uncomfortable in coming to the brothel? Their choice of the women? The client who was aggressive, dominating women because he paid for them? The men who wanted a relationship outside the brothel? Molly and her boosting the ego of the men?

14.The reasons for the men coming, sexuality, support, talking? The response of the women?

15.Insights into characters, situations? Audiences drawing their own conclusions?