NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (July 2021): Criterion have transferred Lizzie Borden's Working Girls to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Lizzie Borden". It was shot on 'Super 16' blown up to 35mm. The pragmatic production roots are visible in a grainy, less crisp, but pleasing textured 1080P image. Colors carry a richness and the video presentation is housed on a dual-layered disc with a maxed out bitrate. The BD produces a consistent image that reflects the 1.66:1 original theatrical appearance extremely well. 

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is authentically flat, and consistent, with a score by David Van Tieghem (No Telling), sounding subtle in the background. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers the audio commentary by director Lizzie Borden, director of photography Judy Irola, and actor Amanda Goodwin recorded in 2007. There is a 2021 conversation, recorded remotely in Los Angeles and New York, with director Lizzie Borden who talks with her friend the director Bette Gordon about the making of Working Girls. It runs over 20-minutes. We also get a new (2021) conversation with actors Louise Smith and Amanda Goodwin; producer Andi Gladstone; and first assistant director Vicky Funari talking about their experiences making Working Girls. It was recorded remotely by the Criterion Collection and runs 22-minutes. Lastly, is a new conversation, also recorded remotely for the Criterion Collection in New York and Los Angeles, with sex workers Jo Weldon, Antonia Crane, Selena the Stripper, and Daphne who talk about how Working Girls reflects their experiences in the sex industry. The package has liner notes with an essay by author So Mayer and excerpts from a 1987 interview with Borden by film critic Scott MacDonald.

Lizzie Borden's Working Girls is almost vérité in its depiction of the subject of sanitized prostitution. It has a 'backstage' feel approaching documentary status. It carries some of the themes of Borden's earlier, and first film, 1983's Born in Flames as a documentary-style feminist fiction exploring racism and sexism. I was interested to see Working Girls and there was no better way than Criterion's Blu-ray with the older commentary and an hour's worth of new interviews as supplements. Recommended.

Gary Tooze