1989·Drama·1h 43m
7.0
★
A gallery of characters in Brooklyn in the 1950s are crushed by their surroundings and selves: a union strike leader discovers he is gay; a prostitute falls in love with one of her clients; a family cannot cope with the fact that their daughter is illegitimately pregnant.
Directed by Uli Edel
new york city
prostitute
based on novel or book
fight
sexuality
union
brooklyn, new york city
1950s
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Stephen Lang
Harry Black
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Tralala
Burt Young
Big Joe
Peter Dobson
Vinnie
Christopher Murney
Paulie
Jerry Orbach
Boyce
Alexis Arquette
Georgette
Stephen Baldwin
Sal
John Costelloe
Tommy
Ricki Lake
Donna
Frank Military
Steve
Camille Saviola
Ella
Crew
Uli Edel
Director
Desmond Nakano
Screenplay
Mark Knopfler
Original Music Composer
Stefan Czapsky
Director of Photography
Bernd Eichinger
Producer
Hubert Selby Jr.
Novel
Donald J. Hewitt Jr.
Stunts
Jake Eberts
Associate Producer
Bill Anagnos
Stunts
Phil Neilson
Stunts
Mick O'Rourke
Stunts
Roy Farfel
Stunts
Popular Reviews
20 reviews
Leo
9.0★ · 05/24/26
So many thoughts….to little space in my head, this is one of the most tragic films I’ve ever watched (alongside mysterious skin). The fact that many of the issues raised in this film such as rape, women’s rights, queer rights, the treatment of queer people and the treatment of workers hasn’t all changed that much. Secondly I hate when there’s a rape scene in a film because more often than not it feels exploitative and sexualised but the one in this film is done so that it is uncomfortable and harrowing in a way that truly does add to the story to showcase the effects and just how horrid it is.
So many thoughts….to little space in my head, this is one of the most tragic films I’ve ever watched (alongside mysterious skin). The fact that many of the issues raised in this film such as rape, women’s rights, queer rights, the treatment of queer people and the treatment of workers hasn’t all changed that much. Secondly I hate when there’s a rape scene in a film because more often than not it feels exploitative and sexualised but the one in this film is done so that it is uncomfortable and harrowing in a way that truly does add to the story to showcase the effects and just how horrid it is.
Adam Domingues
8.0★ · 03/29/26
required reading (literally)
required reading (literally)
Leila H
7.0★ · 11/12/25
This movie shows several stories, the different lives of people in 1952, struggling in many different ways and I am thankful this movie showed these important stories but the way they presented them and portrayed them were.. not the greatest and you can tell it was made during a time where a lot of things that are not acceptable now were then.
This movie shows several stories, the different lives of people in 1952, struggling in many different ways and I am thankful this movie showed these important stories but the way they presented them and portrayed them were.. not the greatest and you can tell it was made during a time where a lot of things that are not acceptable now were then.
Thomas
6.0★ · 07/16/25
It’s not forgettable I’ll tell you that
It’s not forgettable I’ll tell you that
Bryce
8.0★ · 06/24/25
This film is extremely morbid and devastating. I genuinely can't think of two good things that happen in this movie maybe the blowing up of the trucks and the union suceeding? But this is horrid especially that last scene with tralala. Very disturbing at least the film ends on a high with burt saying he'll be there for his son-in laws marriage and the union suceeds. Good movie,but Disturbing
This film is extremely morbid and devastating. I genuinely can't think of two good things that happen in this movie maybe the blowing up of the trucks and the union suceeding? But this is horrid especially that last scene with tralala. Very disturbing at least the film ends on a high with burt saying he'll be there for his son-in laws marriage and the union suceeds. Good movie,but Disturbing