Working Girls

The story unfolds in the late 1980s, an era defined by flashy power suits, aggressive deal-making, and rapid advancement in Wall Street firms. Corporate offices of mergers and acquisitions are centers of competition, prestige, and high-stakes negotiations. The period emphasizes image, networks, and opportunistic entrepreneurship.

Set in New York City, primarily around a Lower Manhattan stock brokerage and the surrounding boroughs. The fast-paced financial district and the city’s iconic skyline frame Tess’s climb through a male-dominated corporate culture. The city itself acts as a pressure cooker where ambition, deals, and office politics shape the characters’ lives.

💼 Ambition

Tess McGill's drive to transcend her secretary role anchors the film's core theme of ambition in a competitive NYC environment. She learns to leverage opportunities, networks, and image to gain a seat at the table. The male-dominated office culture she encounters often belittles her, underscoring the barriers women face in climbing the corporate ladder. The film shows ambition as a force for empowerment, but also as a path that tempts moral compromise.

🎭 Identity

Tess's decision to adopt Katharine's persona—borrowing her clothes and network—forces a confrontation with authenticity. The line between rightful credit and theft blurs as Tess advances the Trask merger. The film probes how identity can be performative in high-stakes business, and what happens when your external image masks your true source of ideas.

⚖️ Ethics

Ethical lines are tested as Tess and Jack navigate intellectual ownership, deception, and accountability. Katharine's manipulation contrasts with Jack's strict code, driving the tension around who deserves credit. The merger's success hinges on trust, transparency, and the willingness to own one's contributions. The ending suggests empowerment through ethical action and honest collaboration rather than theft or deceit.