LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN

US, 1989, 102 minutes, Colour.
Stephen Lang, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Burt Young, Jerry Orbach, Sam Rockwell, Ricki Lake, Stephen Baldwin.
Directed by Uli Edel.

Last Exit from Brooklyn is adapted from the controversial novel by Hugh Selby. This is a grim film. Direction is by German Uli Edel, who made the drug expose feature Christiane F. It is set during 1952 Brooklyn Factory strike. It focuses on Harry, a minor union official, brutal with his wife, attracted towards the homosexual and drug sub-culture of the neighbourhood. It also focuses on Tralala, a prostitute on a complete downhill spiral of abuse and degradation. It also focuses on Italian worker Big Joe and the marriage of his pregnant daughter. These three characters are well played by Stephen Lang, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Burt Young.

Much of the action takes place at night, a dark and mostly ugly world in which its characters are or let themselves be trapped. The film shows us the characters in their world without drawing explicit points. It's up to the audience to judge. Many audiences will find this slice of life, sleazy and brutal, too much. It is a pessimistic vision of the city.

1. The controversial novel, court cases and banning? The film adaptation? Slice of life? Issues of the city?

2. The German American production? German sensibility? Direction? Observation of New York from the outside? New York in the 50s?

3. The 50s in Brooklyn, night, the slums, the streets, the homes and apartments, dumping grounds, the factories? The hellish tones of the decor? The grim picture of Manhattan? Sets, clothes? Music of the era? Mark Knoffler's background music? Mood?

4. The title, the focus on Brooklyn, the way into Brooklyn, no way out?

5. Three stories and their being interwoven? The relating of each of the stories to the other? The images of each story? what overall impact?

6. The opening and ugliness of Brooklyn, Tralala and her prostitution, the pimp? The men, the gang, the victims, the set-ups and the robberies? Tralala being used? The relationship with Vinney? The sailor and sexual encounter? Vinney not going on with the robbery? Tralala going to Manhattan, ditching the soldier date, picking Steve? The pleasant relationship with the two? Steve and New York, going to Korea, sexual encounter, his falling in love? Leaving her the letter and no money? Her drinking? Allowing herself to be gang raped? Spook and his regard for her, coming to rescue her and care for her? Her complete physical and psychological and moral collapse?

7. Vinney as the pimp, the gang, picking fights with the sailors? The police, Harry vouching for them? Setting up the victims with Tralala? Georgette and his attraction? The link with the union bosses, the scab workers, setting the explosions? The escape? Seeing Harry proposition Joey, bashing Harry?

8. Harry and his work for the union, on guard, helping the gang and testifying? The strain of life at home, his relationship with his wife, the poor sexual relationship, his children? Going to the party, drinking and drugs, with
Georgette? The attraction towards Regina? Staying the night, the hangover? Being late, the picket breakers? Trying to defend himself, his being sacked? Regina? Drinking, seeing Joey, approaching him on the street, the gang bashing him and Joey joining in? His being left to hang? a kind of degraded
crucifix figure?

9. The unions, the bosses, their talk, plans, jobs? Speeches? Harry being called to account, his job, the warnings, the money? Giving him the sack? The comment on the union bosses?

10. Big Joe as a worker, involved in the strike, with the unions? His family and their Italian background? Some humour? Donna and her pregnancy, the rest of the family, the information about Tommy? The confrontation with Tommy, making demands on him? The preparations for the wedding, the wedding celebration? Joy, picking a fight with Tommy and reconciliation? And going back to work?

11. Donna, Italian background, Catholic, Brooklyn? Pregnant, love for Tommy? Place in the family, the preparations for the wedding, the water breaking during the trying on of the wedding gown?

12. Vinny, about town, work, friends, tough, relationship with Donna, wanting to do the right thing, the challenge by Joe, the build-up to the wedding, the fight?

13. Spook, the kids in the family, at work in the district, at play, the sordid atmosphere, his infatuation with Tralala, helping her at the end? Joey, with the group, Harry and his approach, joining in the bashing?

14. Georgette, the world of the homosexuals, drugs? The reaction of the gangs? The party, the drugs, Regina? The accident and Georgette being killed? (and the author, Hugh Selby, playing the part of the driver.)

15. A picture of America in the Truman-Eisenhower? years? Bleak, vision? The world of human suffering? An exploitative view or not?