Prostitute (1980) Poster

(1980)

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6/10
Could have been a documentary
Goloh29 September 2013
It's hard to believe I am the first to review a 1980 film, but these things happen, so here goes: this film following the lives of various British prostitutes, social service workers, police, nasty escort service operators, politicians, and customers (not necessarily in such discrete categories, either) is absolutely in documentary format. The dialog sounds unscripted, almost stream-of-consciousness--and I am not certain whether this is a compliment to the actors or not, but they all, without exception, seemed perfectly suited to their roles.

The tone is not judgmental. It's as though a camera happened to be there during the many possible incidents that occur in a prostitute's daily life. As a result, sections of the film did seem to go on and on and ON, and one scene in particular was notable: a sociologist explaining in the most technical, dry academic terms about dynamics of the profession, to a woman who could barely stifle a giggle. All she was interested in was him.

There is just enough nudity, male and female. It didn't seem gratuitous, and it definitely wasn't sexy. It was just there. You might find yourself uncomfortable, feeling like a voyeur, but none of this is anything an adult shouldn't be able to handle. The film's ending is neither happy nor sad. It just tails off.

Footnote: IMDb's cover art for this film is probably not correct, because this is a British film, not Chinese.
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6/10
A frank and unsentimental film about the lives of prostitutes on the streets of Birmingham.
mwilson19764 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This small and gritty independent film was shot mainly on the streets of Birmingham's former red light district in Balsall Heath using a cast of inexperienced actors and real life prostitutes to give it a documentary like feel. Hardly surprising given writer and director Tony Garnett's thirteen year association with Ken Loach. One of the girls played by Eleanor Forsythe, decides to up sticks and move to London to try her hand working as a high class call girl and ends up entertaining a party of snobby city slickers with live sex shows and catering to the needs of an 'adult baby.' British ska band The Gangsters provided the soundtrack to this warts and all depiction of the worlds oldest profession, which is shocking with its frank and unsentimental approach.
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