Brilliant and touching

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I remember this film when it came out on VHS in the UK... other people have commented on the gross marketing of the DVD by the American distributors; they are absolutely right! This film is in fact a feminist film (although directed by a man) about prostitution in the old West and the exploitation of, mainly immigrant, women. The way it deals with the "work" reminded me of "Working Girls", Lizzie Borden's film about the reality of prostitution. The lives of these women had much in common with those women today from eastern Europe and the third world who are victims of trafficking. The reaction to this film is always going to be mixed... a lot of people prefer the romantic view of prostitutes as "tarts with hearts"... but this is groundbreaking in its treatment of the subject and was probably ahead of its time. What really makes it stand out though is the incredible feel for time and place, the touching camaraderie between the women and the fantastic acting from the cast who all give brave and uncompromising performances. I really hope this film stays "out there".

The film is made in the manner of a dark brooding Scandinavian melodrama and is more of a slice of the darker side of prostitution. I saw it on video by Sterling and they should be shot for the box promotion which indicated more of a sensual sexual randy tale: "Expert in the pleasures of the flesh, these women...put the wild in the west." Obviously the person writing this did not bother to watch the film. On the video cover three saloon dressed typed women were added (none of whom were in the movie) further adding to the false advertising of the film. Yes it is slow and even boring and hardly uplifting, but it is a tale of women trapped in a degrading 'lifestyle.' The nudity in this film is about as titilating as the nudity in Jennifer Connelly's "Requiem for a Dream".

Makes "Unforgiven" look like "Oklahoma"- horribly real. Fricker is like Thatcher - the only heroes in the end are the survivors - rings true don't you think? Feels like history instead of John Wayne. Pity the whole story isn't there.

This film plods to say the least! I saw one couple get up and walk out. We have no TV at home so found the novelty of moving pictures just enough to hold our interest. The only redeeming feature was the acting, it was convincing despite chronic editing and lack of direction. You felt the story wanted to go somewhere but the makers were too frightened, maybe due to the budget. What story there was, was difficult to grasp with the few threads we were given, but then there are awful cliches as well. Lines like, "why did you do it?" after one actor tries to kill themselves, I wasn't sure if they were doing this for real to get out of the film. Another was to do with some blood. You couldnt help but cringe at the lack of imagination. All the time though you felt a character may explode into life, a dialogue may start that interests you. But no, that could have verged on being entertaining.In summary I felt the makers got bored with this and it showed.