I really, really, REALLY dislike movies that romanticise prostitution ... which is one of the most dehumanising jobs in existence, but which far too many movies routinely depict as a great career choice for young women who want to get plenty of fresh air and chances to meet people. I recently viewed 'From Hell', in which a bunch of streetwalkers in Victorian London are all good-looking, clean, well-dressed and happy. They take a work break to relax in the pub over drinks, and they pay for these and leave a nice tip before going back to 'the job'. The harsh reality is that most streetwalkers in Victorian London were broken-down pauper women who plied their trade (standing up, in dark alleys) for many hours just to earn enough pennies to pay for one night's lodging in a lice-ridden bed in a doss-house.
The French film 'The Comrades of the Night' is grossly offensive and dishonest, although at least it serves the useful purpose of proving that the French (allegedly so sophisticated in sexual matters) can be just as prurient and hypocritical as anybody else when the topic is sex. This movie purports to give us an inside look at the prostitution industry, but all the scenes depicted here are blatantly staged and unconvincing. The film takes a hypocritical tone, professing to condemn what is shown here, while actually revelling in the sexual exploitation.
The viewpoint character is Olga, who was sexually exploited in her girlhood. Fair enough; many prostitutes were sexually abused before they went 'on the game'. But we are told that Olga 'really' became a prozzy so as to earn money for food and medicine for her little crippled brother Jackie. (Oh, yes. Pull the other one!) We see Olga and other 'working girls' beaten and exploited by their pimps. This too would be a valid story element, as many real-life prostitutes are indeed mistreated and exploited by their 'managers'. But the violence and other encounters shown here are laughably melodramatic and completely implausible. The whores must contend with corrupt vice cops ... again, this happens in real life, but is shown here in a manner that's entirely unrealistic.
SPOILER COMING, BUT WHO CARES: Eventually, Olga rebels against Verdier (her pimp) and shoots him. So what? All these characters are cardboard.
This movie is the French equivalent of those low-budget 'road-house' exploitation movies that used to be commonplace in America. The only real merits of 'The Comrades of the Night' are a few interesting examples of French underworld slang on the badly-recorded soundtrack. I'll rate this movie one point out of 10. Zut alors!
The French film 'The Comrades of the Night' is grossly offensive and dishonest, although at least it serves the useful purpose of proving that the French (allegedly so sophisticated in sexual matters) can be just as prurient and hypocritical as anybody else when the topic is sex. This movie purports to give us an inside look at the prostitution industry, but all the scenes depicted here are blatantly staged and unconvincing. The film takes a hypocritical tone, professing to condemn what is shown here, while actually revelling in the sexual exploitation.
The viewpoint character is Olga, who was sexually exploited in her girlhood. Fair enough; many prostitutes were sexually abused before they went 'on the game'. But we are told that Olga 'really' became a prozzy so as to earn money for food and medicine for her little crippled brother Jackie. (Oh, yes. Pull the other one!) We see Olga and other 'working girls' beaten and exploited by their pimps. This too would be a valid story element, as many real-life prostitutes are indeed mistreated and exploited by their 'managers'. But the violence and other encounters shown here are laughably melodramatic and completely implausible. The whores must contend with corrupt vice cops ... again, this happens in real life, but is shown here in a manner that's entirely unrealistic.
SPOILER COMING, BUT WHO CARES: Eventually, Olga rebels against Verdier (her pimp) and shoots him. So what? All these characters are cardboard.
This movie is the French equivalent of those low-budget 'road-house' exploitation movies that used to be commonplace in America. The only real merits of 'The Comrades of the Night' are a few interesting examples of French underworld slang on the badly-recorded soundtrack. I'll rate this movie one point out of 10. Zut alors!