Hardcore to Princessas is like Scorcesse to Ken Loach. It also reminds me of the story The Silent Twins, or a very dark Trainspotting. It deals with an obsessive relationship between two girls, that ultimately will end badly. It is hard to say that they are insane because they are just reacting to the awfulness their situation. We find Martha and Nandia as teenagers working in a Greek brothel. The portrayal of the sex although not always abusive is always shown as exploitative. Making a mockery of all the Belle De Jours out there. This is in no way overdone, and actually very much a slice of reality in a film that contains, dream sequences, and other cinematic conceits. This is not to criticise the style as this is done well and completely suits the mood of which is almost whimsical. The girls and boys sit around while a Fagin like brothel owner doles out clients, and meagre wages. Nandia is the more dominant girl, the only one in the brothel with any ambitions of leaving. But we are unsure of what motivates her and her desires. Later it is revealed that she burnt her parents house down, and shows no concern as to whether they are alive or not, and she continually speaks of having to avenge. The pair have a lesbian relationship, as well as boyfriends, but in the end all their relationships are doomed considering their bad start. I have seen this called a Gay/Lesbian movie but there is no love in this film, and the sex they have is meaningless because it holds no value to them. There is a lovely sequence nearing the end where Martha imagines her and Nandia as normal adults - sitting around a dinner table discussing families and plans for holidays - it makes you realise the toll of prostitution, and what has been stolen from them. There is also a scene where Nandia says, "We'll grow old, we'll keep getting screwed and no one will know. Or care. People should care!" For me the idea is that we are the one's at the dinner table, and somehow these girls have ended up at the bottom, there for us to use.
