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Business Is Business

Name: Business Is Business
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Released: 1971
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.2/10

Fair

1971

Director

Paul Verhoeven

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Paul Verhoeven’s film centers on women's ability to drive the story within the sex work industry, using fantasy scenarios to challenge traditional social hierarchies. The protagonists drive the narrative through their staged fantasies, providing a critique of domestic oppression. However, the film lacks breadth in other areas. The focus remains on a localized Dutch setting with little evidence of racial diversity or explicit LGBTQ+ identities. While it challenges traditional sexual norms, it does not necessarily represent diverse identities. Ultimately, the work is a study of power dynamics and subjective morality. It succeeds in deconstructing traditional gender roles but remains limited in its racial and queer representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Business Is Business have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film explores non-traditional sexual expressions through elaborate role-playing and fantasy scenarios. However, there is no explicit confirmation of queer identities or same-sex relationships.

How does Business Is Business portray gender?

Good

Greta and Nel are shown as active drivers of their own economic and sexual realities. The narrative challenges traditional patriarchal structures by depicting Nel's abusive marriage as a source of conflict.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Business Is Business?

Limited

The story is set in the Amsterdam red-light district and focuses on a localized Dutch social environment. There is no indication of a racially diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast.

How does Business Is Business represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques traditional Western moralities by emphasizing sexual autonomy over conservative ideals. It deconstructs social roles and the institution of marriage through a postmodern perspective.

Does Business Is Business include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information about characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong emphasis on women's ability to drive the story and economic autonomy.
Effective challenge of traditional patriarchal and domestic structures.
Exploration of non-traditional sexual expressions and role-playing.

Limited or Absent

Lack of documented racial and ethnic diversity.
Absence of explicit LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.
No representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Dutch prostitutes Greta and Nel cruise the Amsterdam red light district, seeking clients to involve in their elaborately staged fetish fantasies, be it disciplinarian headmistresses, surgeons cutting open a willing patient, or even dressing up as chickens, the duo show their expertise in role-playing again and again and again. In reality, Nel is trapped in an abusive marriage and Greta is forever in the middle of their confrontations but her life takes a positive upturn when she becomes involved with a client.

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