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Film1988

Working Girl

Directed by Mike Nichols

  • comedy
  • romance
  • drama

The story

When a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she takes a risky chance to reclaim it by impersonating him and running the project from his position.

What it’s like

Bright, bustling Manhattan captured in 1980s city light: sunny daytime exteriors, glossy office towers, and the warm amber glow of big-city dinners and Staten Island ferry crossings. Mike Nichols favors medium two-shots and tidy, fluid camera moves that follow people through crowded lobbies, cramped commuter trains and open-plan trading floors, with a bouncy, synth-tinged pop score under the montages and a lot of brisk, overlapping dialogue. The vibe is breezy and optimistic, a comedy with a romantic undertow and a sharp, satisfying streak of workplace satire. It suits a Saturday afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening with a glass of wine. Pacing is lively and sociable, with the emotional arc built around a young woman from the outer boroughs gaining confidence, testing her voice, and learning who she can trust in a world of ambition and deal-making. Intensity is low: some mild profanity and tense boardroom bluffing, but no violence, gore or sexual content beyond flirtation and a few kisses. It is made for viewers who want an uplifting, witty story about ambition and self-respect.

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