PAINTED ANGELS

Canada, 1997, 110 minutes, Colour.
Brenda Fricker, Kelly Mc Gillis, Meret Becker, Bronagh Gallagher, Lisa Jakub, Anna Mottram.
Directed by Jon Sanders.

Painted Angels is a study of Irish immigrants in North America in the 19th century. It focuses on women on the frontiers who are forced into prostitution or choose it as a way to make a living.

The film focuses on a brothel run by Brenda Fricker. There are a variety of personalities amongst the prostitutes and the film asks us to contemplate them, their lives, their predicaments, their solutions. Bronagh Gallagher (The Commitments) stands out as Eileen. Kelly Mc Gillis has a more passive role as Nettie who acts as a nurse for the prostitutes.

The film is reminiscent of Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven with its focus on the lives of the prostitutes and their maltreatment by the frontier men. There is a less than sympathetic presentation of the men in this world of painted angels.

The film is a first by director Jon Sanders who co-wrote the screenplay with his wife, Anna Mottram, who portrays the character of Ada.

The film is a Canadian co-production with BBC Films.

1. The film as a presentation of life on the frontier, the American west, the 1870s? A 20th century perspective on the pioneering days and lives of the 19th century?

2. The isolated outpost, the small town, the land around the town, the isolation? The brothel itself, the interiors, the bringing to life of the world within the walls? The musical score, the songs – and echoes of the old countries?

3. The title, the focus on the women themselves, the scenes of their making themselves up, the appearances of the prostitutes, the artificial focus on ‘painted’, the sympathetic focus with ‘angels’?

4. Audience response to the women, their personalities, their lives, their predicaments, their moral choices? The pressure on them in living this kind of life? Their exploitation?

5. The character of Annie Ryan, a tough woman, her management of the girls, her personality, her no-nonsense? The taken for granted moral stances, her getting the girls, providing them for the men? The judgment on Annie?

6. Maude, her being made up, her murder? Not explained? The impact of the death of a girl, the search for a replacement?

7. Katya, her German background, dancing? Her becoming friends with Eileen? Their friendship with Nettie? Katya and her relationship with the men? Her breakdown, her relationship with Ada, Ada’s leaving, the murder, the poolroom? Her seeing ghosts? Trances, the effect on Eileen? The noise and riot, the cabaret troupe? Their decision for the suicide pact, the poison, the reasons for the suicide pact? Katya recovering, Eileen dying? Katya, the effect of the experiences, her leaving town? Her future?

8. Eileen, her Irish background, the belongings that Maude left, giving them to the other girls? Eileen and Katya, getting to know each other, their talking, their friendship? Eileen and her reaction to Katya’s superstitions, trances, the realisation that her family has perished in Ireland? The suicide pact, Eileen’s motivations, her death?

9. Ada, older, her trying to cope, customers? Her being rejected? Georgie and Katya taking her place? Ada having to leave, the harder brothel, her obligations, her love for her three children, her desperate life?

10. Nettie, kinder, more straightforward, her husband, his drinking, his being disabled? Her son? Her being the nurse, her relationship with the other women? Bringing the son to the house, the father unable to look after the boy? Nettie and the suicide pact? Her sending her son away?

11. Georgie, the young prostitute, a life of prostitution ahead of her – until she reached Ada’s age? The customer choosing Georgie instead of Ada?

12. The bonds between the women, for survival, friendship, clashes, reactions to Annie? The customers?

13. A glimpse of a small world within the world of the North American frontiers?