Film Name: 午夜丽人 / Midnight Girls / 午夜麗人
I watched this film for the first time yesterday. I feel like I’ll be rewatching it again. I think it’s a great film, not just because I love old movies. Of course, I believe its greatest strength—something modern films often lack—is its clear central theme. There’s no convoluted twists and turns. The entire film simply portrays the tragic lives of women in the entertainment industry. They’re actually quite endearing. When with friends and family, their genuine warmth and beauty are indistinguishable from ordinary girls—they still possess those innocent smiles.
Like anyone, they dream of striking it rich, but they never truly grasp what this line of work demands. They simply tally up the money—how much they can rake in each time—without considering the precarious nature of this high-risk trade. Once you step into it, you’re forever condemned to live in the shadows. How could this line of work possibly yield a filial son or a husband who truly loves you? Utterly impossible. So they fixate on making the most money, fastest. Even if they don’t literally sell themselves to sleep with men, let’s be honest—what man would marry a prostitute and truly believe she’s pure? These women, who seem so wicked and depraved, just want to tell their fathers on their deathbeds that they were doing honest work—running a shoe store, nothing more.
This afternoon I watched a news video about a prostitute who was killed on her way home at night. Many comments below said she deserved it. It really got me thinking. Some say times have changed—what industry can’t sustain you now? How many women turn to prostitution today because of genuine family hardship or illness? Most sell themselves for designer clothes and handbags, spreading deadly diseases to others. I discussed this with someone.
Of course, this case demands justice for the perpetrator. Until the killer is caught, all women remain under threat. But if the victim were a college student instead of a sex worker, my sympathy would undoubtedly differ. Though both are women, that’s undeniably unequal.
Overall, this film is excellent. Its message resonates deeply: money matters, but it isn’t everything. Some things, once lost, can never be bought back no matter how much you have.
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