Working Girls (1986 film)
Working Girls is a 1986 independent film, written, produced and directed by Lizzie Borden.[1][2]
Working Girls | |
---|---|
Directed by | Lizzie Borden |
Produced by | Lizzie Borden |
Written by | Lizzie Borden |
Starring | Louise Smith Deborah Banks Liz Caldwell |
Production company | Alternate Current |
Distributed by | Miramax |
Release date | May 28, 1986 (Cannes Film Festival) February 27, 1987 (United States) |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Summary
It depicts a day in the life of modern prostitutes in a small Manhattan brothel.[3]
Accolades
It was nominated for the 1987 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and won the Special Jury Prize.[4]
Production
The film was the second feature film directed by Lizzie Borden. Working Girls depicts the lives of sex workers, maintains some of the stylistic and thematic features of her debut, but is more mainstream in its approach. The film was inspired by some of the women who participated in the making of Born in Flames, who coincidentally supported themselves through prostitution.[5] Although Working Girls addresses the subject of prostitution in great detail, Borden prefers the film to be discussed as a narrative fiction film rather than as a documentary.[6] The film was intended to be a "backstage" look at prostitution.
Reception
Roger Ebert gives it a thumbs up and Sheila Benson calls it "funny and insightful."[7]
References
- Ebert, Roger (March 13, 1987). "Working Girls". Chicago Sun-Times.
- Los Angeles Times
- Trailer posted by Video Detective on YouTube
- "Sundance Film Festival Films Honored 1985-2008" (PDF). Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- Lane, Christina. Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2000.
- Redding, Judith M., and Victoria A. Brownworth. Film Fatales: Independent Women Directors. Seattle: Seal Press, 1997.
- Ebert, Roger (March 13, 1987). "Working Girls". Chicago Sun-Times.