Variety (1983)

Variety: Directed by Bette Gordon. With Sandy McLeod, Will Patton, Richard M. Davidson, Luis Guzmán. A woman becomes obsessed with pornography and the mysterious rich patron of the Times Square porn theater called Variety where she works selling tickets. This awakens her sexuality, which confuses her worried boyfriend.

“i had seen this film when first released in early 85. though the pacing is slow and deliberate i find myself hypnotically fastened to the visuals aided by a good john lurie score. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ethis is one of the few films iu0026#39;ve seen where the long lingering visuals (fulton fish market scene,etc),in its unflattering documentation of a bygone nyc era, actually adds the sense of smell to picture. i could actually taste/smell times square while watching.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ethere has been enough written about the plot/theme in others comments. though i find it an ambiguous film in that the character of christineu0026#39;s awakening of alternative sexual desires seems to leave her more frustrated than fulfilled.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ethe pacing reminds me in a good way of wim wenders early bu0026amp;w dramas.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ecould someone please inform me though if that British accented woman at the bar is an uncredited gina birch of The Raincoats??u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ei grew up during that period in manhattan, especially around the sleaze of times square. so i may be simply nostalgic in an odd sense when i watch the film.”