
Variety
1985

Representation Score
Excellent
1987
UnratedDirector
Lizzie Borden
Runtime
93 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Lizzie Borden’s *Working Girls* is a compelling look at female subjectivity and economic ability to act in 1980s New York. By focusing on a model, a secretary, and an escort, the film shifts the narrative away from patriarchal structures toward female-centric ecosystems. The film stands out in its portrayal of LGBTQ+ identities and gendered power, presenting non-straight-centered lives with a straightforwardness that challenges the era's cinematic norms. It effectively dismantles traditional clichés by emphasizing how women navigate systemic obstacles using intelligence and resilience. While the film excels in critiquing capitalism and class, it falls short in exploring multi-layered racial dynamics and disability. It remains a significant example of early feminist storytelling that validates non-traditional lifestyles.
Category Breakdown
The film presents a nuanced view of LGBTQ+ identities, focusing on the protagonist's lesbian identity as part of her overall life rather than just a plot point.
It challenges traditional gender roles by highlighting three women with significant influence. The film portrays these women as complex figures who negotiate power rather than falling into submissive stereotypes.
The movie explores socioeconomic differences through class contrasts but does not deeply explore racial the way different parts of someone's identity overlap or feature a non-Anglo-Saxon majority.
The story critiques capitalist systems and the commodification of labor, showing characters making pragmatic decisions in response to economic pressures.
The film does not significantly address visible or invisible disabilities. Its themes focus more on gendered labor and class issues.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
A lesbian college graduate, trying to bankroll her own photography business, works as a high-priced New York City escort.

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