A period drama set in a brothel is bound to raise eyebrows. The subject matter could easily be mishandled, and the resulting series would be nothing more than exploitative and sexist drivel. But Hulu’s “Harlots” is taking its premise in an entirely unexpected — and welcome — direction. “The eight-part series was directed only by women and boasts an all-female writing and producing team,” The Hollywood Reporter writes.
Written by Moira Buffini (“Jane Eyre”) and based an an idea by Buffini and actress Alison Newman (“EastEnders”), “Harlots” is set in 18th century Georgian London and stars Samantha Morton (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), Lesley Manville (“Maleficent”), and Jessica Brown Findlay (“Downton Abbey”). The project is inspired by the stories of real women.
“It’s a show about economics as much as it is a show about sex work,” Manville explained during a panel at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. “What the show does really well is show prostitution from every social angle.”
“It was very important to us from the beginning to make it about the female gaze. We were determined to make something different,” added executive producer Alison Owen. “Our hope from the beginning was, ‘Everything from the whore’s eye view.’”
Accordingly, only women producers, writers, and directors were hired to work on “Harlots.” Episodes will be helmed by directors such as Coky Giedroyc (“Penny Dreadful”) and China Moo-Young (“Humans”). “We really set out to get all female directors. We got the best of the best in the U.K., and it has influenced the show exactly the way we wanted it to,” said executive producer Debra Hayward. (Other shows to feature seasons directed exclusively by women include Season 1 of Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” (and its upcoming second season), Season 3 of Heidi Thomas’ “Call the Midwife”, and the upcoming second season of Melissa Rosenberg’s “Jessica Jones.”)
“Harlots” debuts on Hulu March 29. Check out a NSFW teaser below. “For a harlot, [love] doesn’t exist,” one of the brothel’s employees explains. So, it seems it’s safe to say that you shouldn’t be expecting a highly romanticized version of the sex trade a la “Pretty Woman.”
