Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000)

Documentary look at the 1996-97 effort of the dancers and support staff at a San Francisco peep show, The Lusty Lady, to unionize. Angered by arbitrary and race-based wage policies, ... See full summary »

Directors:

Vicky Funari, Julia Query

Writers:

Vicky Funari, Julia Query

Stars:

Julia Query, Jane, Siobhan Brooks

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Query	...	Herself - Stripper
Jane	...	Herself - Stripper
Siobhan Brooks	...	Herself - Stripper (as Siobhan)
Kristina	...	Herself - Stripper
Ellen	...	Herself - Stripper
Darrell	...	Himself - General Manager, Lusty Lady (as Darrell)
Scott	...	Himself - Support Staff
Star	...	Herself - Stripper
Joyce Wallace	...	Herself - Julia's Mother (as Dr. Joyce Wallace)
Stephanie Batey	...	Herself - SEIU Negotiator
Velvette	...	Herself - Stripper
Elise	...	Herself - Support Staff
Johanna	...	Herself - Stripper
Isis	...	Herself - Stripper
Summer	...	Herself - Stripper

Storyline

Documentary look at the 1996-97 effort of the dancers and support staff at a San Francisco peep show, The Lusty Lady, to unionize. Angered by arbitrary and race-based wage policies, customers' surreptitious video cameras, and no paid sick days or holidays, the dancers get help from the Service Employees International local and enter protracted bargaining with the union-busting law firm that management hires. We see the women work, sort out their demands, and go through the difficulties of bargaining. The narrator is Julia Query, a dancer and stand-up comedian who is reluctant to tell her mother, a physician who works with prostitutes, that she strips.

---

Plot Keywords:

f rated | female nudity | striptease | peep show | mother daughter relationship | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Live Nude Girls Unite!

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$84,706

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$84,706

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constant Communication, Farm Fresh Films, Lazy Eight

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in SexTV: Early Puberty/Live Nude Girls Unite/Adding Up AIDS (2001)

---

Soundtracks

Tilliboyo
Music by Foday Musa Suso
Performed by Kronos Quartet
Courtesy of Elektra Nonesuch
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

I recommend this true, funny, & INTERESTING mother-daughter story

Believe it or not, `Live Nude Girls Unite!' is a true, funny and heartfelt mother-daughter story! I saw the film at it's world premiere in San Francisco in the spring of 2000, and I still find myself thinking about it occasionally. It follows a group of dancers at a San Francisco strip club, `The Lusty Lady', as they work and fight to become the world's first unionized sex workers. This is interesting given that The Lusty Lady (TLL), is `women owned and operated', and the customers use coin machines to pay to view the dancers behind glass, so there's no tipping for physical contact between dancers and customers. Under these conditions, you'd think the dancers should have few complaints and no compelling reasons to organize. (Typically dancers pay the clubs a high fee to perform, relying on customer tips for their actual wages, especially tips in exchange for sex). I mean if you've decided to be an exotic dancer, you could be exposed to much worse conditions, right?

Central to the documentary is the story of Julia, a stand-up comedian and one-half of the producing/directing team making the film. Julia has decided to take the opportunity to capture on film her mother's reaction to the news that Julia is an exotic dancer at TLL. Beyond the concern or even horror such a revelation would bring any parent, Julia's mother has seen the worst the sex industry has to offer. She's a physician and advocate for the rights of street prostitutes!

Quite contrary to other user comments, I found the film VERY INTERESTING and applaud the incredible will it took Julia to confront her mother on film, as this event is CRUCIAL TO THE STORY. That moment has the potential to devolve into a Jerry Springer shouting match, but there is a trust and shared intelligence between this mother and her daughter, and they will persevere.

Keep in mind that one of the film makers is a professional comedian, and this is a hilarious film. (One of the funniest moments in the film is some footage borrowed from a popular television news magazine of Julia's mother entertaining and informing a national media figure on her crusade). I highly recommend this documentary.