WHORE
A film review by Lon Ponschock
Copyright 1992 Lon Ponschock
Directed by Ken Russell Starring Theresa Russell (no relation) Rated and Unrated versions available
There is an old saying which goes something like "The worst sex I ever had was still pretty good."
The closest film piece to this work (that I can think of) is TALK RADIO directed by Oliver Stone and starring Eric Bogosian. WHORE is essentially a one-actor drama with other players. The screenplay was co-written by a woman and adapted from a stage play called BONDAGE.
When the film had its theatrical release, there was nothing much good that was said about it, save for very early on. Prior to critical review, WHORE was likened to a darker side of the popular film PRETTY WOMAN which starred Julia Roberts.
But as some reviewers today are pointing out, there is a difference in watching a videotape out of one's house and going to the theatre. WHORE, as a theatrical release, was a big bomb. I didn't go to it because, as many of you, I depend on the word of others to critique the product beforehand. And if going to the theatrical release of HENRY AND JUNE can provide any insight, I think I was right is waiting for the video release of WHORE.
WHORE is a brutal film, but I also found moments of significant humor. And of course the humor has to do with sex. This film, better than any other shows the difference in the perception of sex between men and women. We're talking about sexual fantasy here and sexual fact. Through the eyes of the prostitute, we see how ludicrous and funny sexual fantasies can be.
I need not enumerate what these fantasies are. What the film shows is the difference in point of view between the fantasy and the reality and this can be quite funny and disturbing.
In the concept of the Theatre of Cruelty created by French actor and director Antonin Artaud, the author describes going to the theatre like going to see the dentist: you know beforehand that you will be made uncomfortable, but when it's all over, you will be better off for it. It's doubtful that Ken Russell had the Theatre of Cruelty in mind, but this is in effect what he accomplishes.
See WHORE on video. There is no need (or really any possibility any longer) of seeing it in the theatre with guys with their hats in their laps. The NC-17 film has yet to made which does not make one feel ill-at-ease with a room full of strangers.
Make no mistake, there is much brutalizing that takes place in this film, but that has all been done before. What has not been done before is to cast the cold eye of calculation on sex. Who else is talking about the use of condoms explicitly and repeatedly as a fact of life and a part of *the job* in a work of fiction?
The May 1992 issue of DETAIL magazine has a feature on the Cabaret Royale in Houston: a new wave topless club with good taste: sort of like a Playboy Club with "balls." The author, after having talked with the performers and the owner says of the performance:
"She knows it's faker than fake... we all know ... but--at
twenty-eight years old, quite a lot of love-of-my-life eye
gazing behind me-- I realize something that I never knew.
Something I never wanted to know. *I can't tell the difference*."
--- Chris Heath
Lon Ponschock lon@edsi.plexus.com
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