Working Girl, 1988 - ★★★★

Even more than “Wall Street” this film expresses the quintessential ethos of the 80’s. Hard work, deal making, self-improvement, and aspirational wealth. The blue collar work ethic and disregard for rules makes success inevitable.

I’d forgotten that this film does not end with big romantic moment, but with Tess’s triumphant office phone call. It’s like the reverse of Il Postino, where the desk worker’s fate is sealed.

Here it is the beginning of her grand journey into the great game of success and wealth and fulfillment?!?

But really her new schedule is a series of boring meetings. In 10 years she’ll have Blackberries and more meetings. The dot com era awaits Tess, and 9/11 beyond that.

It’s certainly a triumph in the moment - but as Nichols camera pulls back and we see thousands of other Tess’s — how happy is the ending?

(A fascinating pairing with “The Materialists” - and not just because of the mother daughter thing)