East End Hustle (1979)

Touches You

Let's be realistic.

Absolutely brilliant

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Gutsy and fed-up prostitute Cindy (a solid and credible performance by Andree Pelletier) encourages her fellow browbeaten ladies of the evening to stand up to ruthless and abusive pimp Dan (smoothly played to slimy perfection by Miguel Fernandes). However, Dan doesn't take this insubordination from his stable lightly.Director Frank Vitale, who also co-wrote the hard-hitting script by Allan Moyle, relates the engrossingly seamy story at a steady pace, maintains a bleak sordid tone throughout, delivers a generous amount of female nudity (however, said nudity is primarily shown in a decidedly harsh and non-erotic context), and, most admirable of all, presents prostitution in a stark and unsentimental manner that doesn't glorify or sanitize the bitter realities of that particular lifestyle in any way. The sound acting from a capable cast holds this picture together, with especially stand-out work from Anne-Marie Provencher as the naive and fragile Marianne, Moyle as Cindy's loyal boyfriend Peter, and Joe Mattia as vicious enforcer Eddy. Len Blum's funky-throbbing score hits the get-down groovy spot. Kudos are also in order for Ivar Rushevic's competent cinematography. An on the money grindhouse item.

This movie deserves way better than it has received critically - a fascinating example of indie-film collectivos venturing into the well-funded world of that era's commercial Canadian cinema, and hitting the nail on the head. A grotty tale of sex workers in revolt from their scumbag pimp - featuring Pump up the Volume director Allan Moyle, a regular in this Montreal cinematic repertory company - this doesn't just out-sleaze 'American Nightmare'; it also comes very close to out-politicking 'Rejeanne Padovani'. Unlike the former, this one is told entirely from the perspective of the sex workers themselves, and they are a fantastic ensemble, bright and damaged in varying proportions, with unnecessarily rich characterization. The protagonist's loving relationship with her boyfriend is particularly revealing - he offers his support, but the filmmakers go far out of their way to make sure that SHE resolves the conflict, not some hero riding to the rescue. The rape scene is as uncompromising as it is un-pornographic, the single-take sex scene is a startling condensation of the movie's down-to-earth world view, and the film's view of community and friendship as the one real lifeline for these women on the edge is almost unprecedented and very moving. And ideology aside, it works very well as a thriller, with suspense and forward motion throughout. This could be a virtual litmus test for bourgeois film critics - if you can't see the brains beneath the sleaze, you've got blinkers on for sure.

I made the mistake of purchasing this movie new as I was unfortunately drawn in by the movie's cover.The theme on the case sleeve seemed interesting and it was, but the film was very simple: Nudity,sex and violence.This film was boring at times (as many of the scenes dragged) and for this reason it was rather difficult to sit through, the only reason I gave it 3 stars was for a couple of scenes in the movie which were well done (even though they were very short they were quite effective).I don't know if the production ran out of money but the movie ends abruptly resulting in a rather poor climax.The ending pretty much sums up the movie, vague and disappointing. There is a lengthy sex scene but it was filmed with poor lighting and is rather difficult to see.Strangely enough,there are no streetwalking or escorting scenes either.I expected more street hustling type action considering the theme.The film however does have its moments(maybe 10 minutes overall) but as a whole it is highly disappointing.The listed running time on sleeve is 90 minutes 80 of which I would have been better off sleeping through.

I saw this on Canadian Pay TV back in the mid 1980s and was surprised by the heavy quotient of violence, given how it was sometimes shown early in the morning. The story is about a prostitute and some of her pals who decide to rebel against their pimp who naturally doesn't take it too well and this leads to an underworld war. In addition to some heavy violence, there is some pretty strong nudity and sex in the film and not so much the erotic type but the cheap, sleazy, peephole type. The film does indeed have a gritty, anything goes, street-quality to it but none of the actors show much talent and there isn't really anyone to root for. The film almost qualifies for an X-rating and seems like it was designed mainly for the porno house crowd, though even they may be turned off by the bad taste this film leaves behind.