Whores' Glory

The Austrian master filmmaker Michael Glawogger was awarded the Special Orrizzonti Jury Prize in Venice for this trilogy shot in warm colors focusing on the uncertain lives of prostitutes in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Mexico. The jury praised its "stunning visual eloquence and precision," which produces imagery whose beauty and emotional engagement almost match that of fiction cinema. \i Whore's Glory \i0 is the third part of Glawogger's trilogy on globalization; it was preceded by \i Megacities\i0 (1998) and \i Workingman's Death\i0 (2005). In Bangkok, we see how numbers are pinned onto dolled-up girls as if for a Miss World competition. In Faridpur, very young girls literally drag clients into their room - because no clients means no life. In Reynesa, a retired hooker giggles as she divulges the tricks of her trade. We see prostitutes speaking freely about all aspects of their work, including aging and the role of religion as a form of support. Several customers also have their say about why they visit prostitutes. In his engaging and colorful portraits, Glawogger avoids clich\'e9s and easy judgments, and he reminds us about the impact of commerce and globalization. The melancholy soundtrack featuring PJ Harvey and CocoRosie help set a contemplative mood.