This is a profound movie; it is quite deep in it's implications, certainly not a movie that you would go to for a date as it really does not leave one feeling good. Many people have discussed the psychological overtones to this film, and all the comments do touch on something important though they really miss one point. The point they miss is that this movie has a paradox in it that is as much of a plot buster as the watch in "Somewhere in Time" (read the "goofs" section for that movie if you are unfamiliar with what I just mentioned). The paradox really comes down to the statement by the character Roland Cain that Claire is just a whore and will always be a whore. Incidentally, Colm Meaney does NOT play a pimp like a true pimp. True pimps are some of the ugliest (personality wise I mean) people you could ever imagine and most are worse than you could even imagine. His character, as a pimp, is actually quite lovable- as pimps go. In that profession his pimp would be considered a "choir boy". That is certainly one very unrealistic aspect of the movie.
Anyway, the movie portrays Claire making a living as a prostitute in order to pay off a monetary debt that she and her mother owes the pimp for bringing them from Ireland to the United States (and presumably for the nursing home costs for her mother). After her mother's death early on in the movie (One observation - IMHO Karin Cartlidge did not act the scenes concerning the mother's death with the depth of emotion that one would expect from such a great actress. This may be due to the fact that, in real life, she never did go through the trauma of burying her mother) Claire decides to sneak away from her pimp and start an honest life elsewhere. The movie then shows that the pimp tracks her down and forces her back to the lifestyle of prostitution. That is the paradox of the movie. Obviously, contrary to the pimps opinion, she is not a "born whore" - she was driven to desperate measures by desperate circumstances; basically to take care of her mother. When Claire no longer had that obligation then she did try to leave. The film really shows no reason why she could not have remained clear of the clutches of her pimp. Even though he found her she only had to call the police and that would have ended everything. It may seem trite, but police do intervene in that situation to save the "dasmal in distress". They love to. Cops I know (and most cops are of this mindset) will tolerate prostitution. Once in a while, for show, a prostitute will be arrested and spend a night in jail but other than that it is pretty much a "live and let live" mindset with the police concerning prostitutes. But, the police have only scorn for pimps. They hate them, and will not waste an opportunity to put them in a state pen. The pimps know that, so they generally will not stalk the girl and force her back into the lifestyle if she does break away.
The film has an interesting look, but it would be highly unlikely to occur in real life. The taxi driver, Elton Garrett, is a representation of people of that sort who do, in reality, have a hard time in life. Such people do exist and their existence is, at times, bleak.
Anyway, the movie portrays Claire making a living as a prostitute in order to pay off a monetary debt that she and her mother owes the pimp for bringing them from Ireland to the United States (and presumably for the nursing home costs for her mother). After her mother's death early on in the movie (One observation - IMHO Karin Cartlidge did not act the scenes concerning the mother's death with the depth of emotion that one would expect from such a great actress. This may be due to the fact that, in real life, she never did go through the trauma of burying her mother) Claire decides to sneak away from her pimp and start an honest life elsewhere. The movie then shows that the pimp tracks her down and forces her back to the lifestyle of prostitution. That is the paradox of the movie. Obviously, contrary to the pimps opinion, she is not a "born whore" - she was driven to desperate measures by desperate circumstances; basically to take care of her mother. When Claire no longer had that obligation then she did try to leave. The film really shows no reason why she could not have remained clear of the clutches of her pimp. Even though he found her she only had to call the police and that would have ended everything. It may seem trite, but police do intervene in that situation to save the "dasmal in distress". They love to. Cops I know (and most cops are of this mindset) will tolerate prostitution. Once in a while, for show, a prostitute will be arrested and spend a night in jail but other than that it is pretty much a "live and let live" mindset with the police concerning prostitutes. But, the police have only scorn for pimps. They hate them, and will not waste an opportunity to put them in a state pen. The pimps know that, so they generally will not stalk the girl and force her back into the lifestyle if she does break away.
The film has an interesting look, but it would be highly unlikely to occur in real life. The taxi driver, Elton Garrett, is a representation of people of that sort who do, in reality, have a hard time in life. Such people do exist and their existence is, at times, bleak.