By Amanda Gilmore
Director Gia Coppola’s latest is a stark look at how society and workplaces treat women as they age.
Shelley (Pamela Anderson) has been working as a showgirl at the last remaining tits and feather show on the Las Vegas strip. She’s been a part of the production since its conception three decades ago. When she finds out the show is being forced to close she has to confront the sacrifices she made in her personal life to be successful in her professional. Especially now that the profession she loves no longer loves her.
Coppola and screenwriter Kate Gersten have created an emotional, raw look at society’s ruthlessness of aging women. The harsh reality is that society treats younger women differently from older women, especially when it comes to the performing arts industries. Having this story set in the world of Las Vegas showgirls just heightens that reality.
The entire Cast comes from a range of generations of women and all give strong performances. The ever-charming Jamie Lee Curtis gives an impactful performance as a cocktail waitress who consistently gets sent home early when new employees get to stay. Brenda Song plays a dancer who gets shut down from all auditions because she’s deemed too old. Kiernan Shipka, the youngest of the dancers, gets hired immediately at a new show. Then there’s Anderson leads the pack in one scene and gets told the only reason she got her job all those years ago was because she was young and hot.
When Shelley hears the news of the show canceling, she immediately calls her daughter played by Billie Lourd who gives a touching performance. They’ve been estranged for years due to Shelley wanting to be bathed in the stage lights. This storyline of a woman’s sacrifice for her career is a clever touch as it takes us deeper into the female experience. Not only does the world judge women on their physical appearance, but also judges them evermore when they’ve got children.
The Last Showgirl screens at TIFF ’24:
Fri, Sept 6 at 3 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Sun, Sept 8 at 2:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Fri, Sept 13 at 6:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Sat, Sept 14 at 7 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Published in 2010, Actor/Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Author James Franco‘s Collection of Short Stories, Palo Alto, was inspired by some of his own memories as a Teen and those stories submitted by the students of Palo Alto High School. The Stories centers mostly on experimentation and Family conflict. The Film Adaptation of the Book, directed by Gia Coppola (Granddaughter of Francis Ford), will see its premiere at TIFF next week!
See the brand new Trailer below:
Palo Alto stars: James Franco, Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff, Val Kilmer, Zoe Levin and Keegan Allen.
Those of you attending TIFF ’13 have three chances to see it:
Friday September 6, 2013 – Scotiabank 4 at 9:00 PM
Saturday September 7, 2013 – The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 9:30 AM
Friday September 13, 2013 – The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 6:00 PM
Pathé International handles sales for the Film, which still has yet to find North American distribution.
(Photo credit: Sammy Bandini)
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