Working Girls

Set in the early 1930s, during the Great Depression, the film follows young women facing economic hardship as they enter the urban job market. Work opportunities hinge on appearance, wit, and networking, highlighting the era's gendered expectations. The timeline frames the characters' decisions about education, employment, and marriage.

Two unsophisticated sisters from Indiana move to New York City to seek a better life, starting at the Rolfe charity apartment building for homeless girls. The city provides a bustling backdrop of fashion houses, radio studios, and ritzy apartments, contrasting with precarious jobs and financial uncertainties. The Rolfe House anchors scenes of camaraderie among young women navigating work, romance, and independence.

💞 Love vs Security

Romance and practical security intertwine as Mae's pregnancy and marriage choices shape the sisters' futures. Each sister navigates affection and economics, weighing emotional desires against financial stability. The finale presents competing romantic futures for Mae and June, underscoring how love can intersect with social security in tough times.

💪 Female Agency

Mae and June drive their own destinies, pursuing jobs, making social connections, and challenging contemporary expectations. June uses fashion and wit to improve her station, while Mae asserts her own path through relationships and motherhood. Their choices reveal resilience and resourcefulness within a restrictive society.

🏙️ Class and Mobility

The sisters' move from Indiana to New York exposes the harsh realities of class and opportunity in the Depression era. The Rolfe House, fashion houses, and socialite circles illustrate both doors opening and doors closing based on wealth and connections. The film uses urban settings to frame ambitions, compromises, and the potential for upward mobility through love and work.