Stripped
WOMEN IN PERIL - STRIPPED

The first, expository third of ex-stripper Jill Morley's documentary,
Stripped, tells the viewer nothing that existing fiction and documentary
films about sex workers - women and men, gay and straight, strippers,
escorts and porn stars alike - haven't already told us. Many, for instance,
grew up feeling ugly or invisible, and now use their sexuality to fill self-
esteem voids. Even those who are not so wounded, who view the work
positively or as a political statement, confess to a creeping cynicism
about humanity and a mounting resentment of their clients. But as the film
progresses beyond its formulaic introduction, the featured women - ranging
from a single mom who's also a freelance writer, to a dancer with an MFA
from NYU, to an actress/performance artist - push the film toward a more
nuanced dialogue. Confessed fears of soul corruption, aging and the loss of
genuine creativity elevate the film from lukewarm rehashing into an often-
moving philosophical debate on everything from femininity to the nature of
work. Though Morley, who also created and starred in a one-woman show based
on her experiences, is a shaky technician (the film frequently veers out of
focus, and camera placement often obscures as much as it captures), she
leads with her heart, for a character study that lovingly honors its
subjects. The film is the first in a three-week series. (Sunset 5; Sat.-
Mon., Aug. 31-Sept. 2)