Plot: What’s it about?
At the Lusty Lady, the name of the game is flesh, as in live nude girls and lots of them. The workers don’t dance like in strip clubs however, as they perform in one large mirrored room, then customers watch through glass windows. As the viewers drop in more quarters, they can see more of the show and as time ticks, the cash can really start to pile up, of course. The girls here have it better than most workers in the sex business, as they have no real contact with the customers and no stage fees, but they have some problems, nonetheless. These ladies have no real job security, unfair wage policies, no sick leave, privacy worries, discrimination for race & breast size, and all sorts of other issues, all of which concern them, as they would any worker, in any profession. But when enough is enough, the girls band together and decide to unionize, to improve their working conditions and establish a safer working system. But can a group of exotic dancers stand up to the system and fight for their rights, or will they simply be dismissed based on the nature of their profession alone?
A documentary on peep show dancers might sound like a home made porno, but Live Nude Girls Unite! is a real film, not some tease show. Of course, as the title suggests, you will see some naked girls and if that offends you, then this movie shouldn’t be on your “to-watch” list. I was unsure of what to expect from this film, but it really won me over and the battles the girls fight here should inspire all people, I think. Just because they work in a place where they take their clothes off, that doesn’t mean they should lose their rights, not even close. So I am pleased to see some positive light shown on exotic dancers, as they work as hard as anyone and deal with all sorts of dangerous elements, just to make ends meet. In Live Nude Girls Unite!, we meet some of the dancers and learn about them as people, not just nameless naked women. We especially get to know co-director Julia Query, who shares her life with us and even exposes her lifestyle to her mother for the first time, right inside the documentary, very powerful stuff. I found this to be an insightful, very entertaining piece and such, it is more than recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Live Nude Girls Unite! is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. This is a documentary of course and since it was shot on a lower end camera, the end result is less impressive than a typical feature film. This is to be expected however, as the lower end equipment produces lower end visuals, so I don’t think anyone will be surprised here. The image looks good for what it is and often looks very good, but some scenes have too much grain and just look cheaply made, which is not good news. The print looks clean though, while colors are bold and contrast is more than stable. So this is a mixed bag of sorts in terms of visuals, but in the end, this is a solid effort given the nature of the feature, which is about all one can demand here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a low budget, very personal documentary and as such, the included mono track is adequate. This is basically a home movie with some musical additions, so the range is limited, but it all sounds more than passable here. The music sounds good and while sound effects are minimal, those that are present come across well. The main focus is the dialogue and it all sounds terrific here, always clean and at a proper volume balance. Not a flashy track by any means, but it covers the bases and in this case, that’s enough.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a selection of still photos, three excellent deleted sequences, and the film’s trailer.
