Adua and Her Friends

Simone Signoret stars as Adua, a veteran prostitute who tries to take charge of her life after her brothel is shut down in the aftermath of Italy's Merlin Law, which ended legalized prostitution in 1958. Adua's friends (Emmanuelle Riva, Sandra Milo, and Gina Rovere) pitch in as partners in a restaurant—meant to be a front for their own bordello upstairs—which enjoys unexpected success, offering hope for something better. Marcello Mastroianni costars as Piero Salvagni, a charming hustler who hawks cars and woos Adua, but the focus is on the female foursome as they develop camaraderie through a shared effort. Director Antonio Pietrangeli offers a mix of warm character study and spiky social commentary, clearly empathizing with the women as he explores sexual double standards and cultural chauvinism. Made in 1960, the film is frank about their work and their lives, underscoring how the Merlin Law actually made things worse for sex workers, whether they remained prostitutes (with no legal protection) or attempted to transition into another career. There are no happy-ending fantasies here for Adua and her friends, but they do have moments of triumph, solidarity, and defiance, offering hints of freedom in a daily existence that otherwise eludes dreams of self-determination. Bowing on Blu-ray, extras include an introduction by Italian film historian Maurizio Poro, a short by Pietrangeli, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)