1987
Unrated
Miramax
1 h 33 m

1987
Unrated
Miramax
1 h 33 m

Summary Sex work is portrayed with radical nonjudgment in Lizzie Borden’s immersive, richly detailed look at the rhythms and rituals of society’s most stigmatized profession. Inspired by the experiences of the sex workers Borden met while making her underground feminist landmark Born in Flames, Working Girls reveals the textures of a day in the ...

Drama

Directed By: Lizzie Borden

Written By: Sandra Kay, Lizzie Borden

1987
Unrated
Miramax
1 h 33 m

1987
Unrated
Miramax
1 h 33 m

Working Girls

Name: Working Girls
Genre: Drama
Released: 1987-02-27
Duration: 1 min 33 s
Rating: 62
Cast: Louise Smith, Ellen McElduff, Amanda Goodwin, Deborah Banks, Liz Caldwell

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 12 Critic Reviews

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Where to Watch

Drama

Directed By: Lizzie Borden

Written By: Sandra Kay, Lizzie Borden

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 12 Critic Reviews

58% Positive
7 Reviews

42% Mixed
5 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

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Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 12 Critic Reviews

58% Positive
7 Reviews

42% Mixed
5 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Too distanced to be called compassionate - the term can imply condescension - Working Girls is provocative, honest and disturbing. [15 May 1987]

By Jay Scott FULL REVIEW

Chicago Tribune

Director Lizzie Borden sticks to the business of trying to elicit natural performances from a cast that includes Off-off Broadway actors, actors with almost no credits and, among the men, some who are not actors at all. To a remarkable degree she has succeeded, particularly in the case of Louise Smith, who plays Molly. [13 Mar 1987, p.D]

By Johanna Steinmetz FULL REVIEW

Newsweek

Working Girls has its shortcomings (the madam is too caricatured, the script occasionally reads like rehashed research), but the film, a fiction with the conviction of a documentary, fascinates and provokes. [06 Apr 1987, p.64]

By David Ansen FULL REVIEW

Los Angeles Times

Working Girls, well photographed by Judy Irola (Northern Lights) will keep you brooding about its issues for days afterward--something of a tribute to its air of unquestioned reality.

By Sheila Benson FULL REVIEW

Variety

Borden sugars her pill with clean, crisp, often witty recording of brothel action and shop-talk. All acting is credible and the camerawork is smooth, the non-action a bit on the long winded side.

FULL REVIEW

Washington Post

While she demystifies prostitution, managing at times to make it seem as boring as it must often be, Borden (and cowriter Sandra Kay) make the characters almost too sympathetic.

By Richard Harrington FULL REVIEW

Washington Post

It's low-budget, rough-cut documentary, stained-sheet ugly moviemaking, suited to Borden's simple-minded message.

By Rita Kempley FULL REVIEW

See All 12 Critic Reviews

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Details

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Production Company Alternate Current, New York State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Jerome Foundation

Release Date Feb 27, 1987

Duration 1 h 33 m

Rating Unrated

Genres

Drama

Tagline Sex. Money. Kinky Customers. Lunch. For These Girls, It's All In A Day's Work.

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Awards

Sundance Film Festival

• 1 Win & 2 Nominations

Film Independent Spirit Awards

• 1 Nomination

Working Girls

Where to Watch

Where to Watch

Top Cast

Louise Smith

Molly

Ellen McElduff

Lucy

Amanda Goodwin

Dawn

Deborah Banks

Diane

Liz Caldwell

Liz

Marusia Zach

Gina

Boomer Tibbs

Bob

Eli Hasson

Voice of Hasid

Tony Whiting

Voice of Gina's Client

Richard M. Davidson

Jerry

Ronald Willoughby

John

Paul Slimak

Jay

Frederick Neumann

Fantasy Fred

Patience Pierce

Kathy

Grant Wheaton

Robert

Richard Leacock

Joseph

Martin Haber

Don

Carla-Maria Sorey

Debbie

Michael Holland

Miles

Dan Nutu

George the Cook

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

Details

Details

Awards

Awards

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