On the few occasions I've been to strip clubs to attend bachelor's parties, I've always left depressed over how unappetizing the dancers were. Invariably, they've struck me as godawful actresses rather than the nymphomaniacs they pretended to be in order to separate me from my money as fast as possible. Furthermore, I could see right through their lame acts to the sad truth that many of these desperate drug addicts needed to sleep with customers to support their habits. Not my fantasy.
Those hardened whores cut a sharp contrast to the relatively-refreshing females to be found in A Wink and a Smile. Directed by Deirdre Timmons, this revealing documentary follows ten students as they learn the art of striptease over the course of a semester at Seattle's Academy of Burlesque. Who knew there was even a school for this?
What makes this film fascinating is that the class is comprised of ordinary-looking, attractive women if you know what I mean, appealing but not the airbrushed models you would expect to find in Playboy. Most of these girl-next-door types are in their twenties and come from all walks of life, including a housewife, a college student, an opera singer, a physician and a taxidermist.
So, anyone watching A Wink and a Smile would naturally want to know, what makes the stars of the movie interested in exposing themselves. Director Timmons does an outstanding job at allowing each to explain both her motivations and her reservations in this regard, as they get closer to graduation. Surprisingly, their reasons turn out to be as diverse as their professions.
Besides the deep psychological analysis, the film does feature a lot of instruction about stripping, showing the girls learning everything from how to dance dirty ("Make believe you're trying to draw on the ground with a pen stuck in your crotch.") to what to do if a pasty falls off ("Never break the illusion."). These students prove to be quick, if occasionally hesitant, learners of the bump and grind. The film culminates with their final exam which involves performing a carefully choreographed routine at a local burlesque house in front of a very appreciative audience.
Lovely ladies summoning up the courage to deliver some delightfully erotic, if simultaneously wholesome, adult entertainment. I just pray none of them are tempted to quit their day jobs.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 90 minutes
Studio: First Run Features
DVD Extras: Director's interview, bonus scene, burlesque photo gallery and more.
To order a copy of for A Wink and a Smile on DVD, visit: AMAZON
To see a trailer for A Wink and a Smile,
Kam Williams is a syndicated film and book critic who writes for 100+ publications. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Online, the African-American Film Critics Association, and the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee. Contact him through NewsBlaze.
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