I have no idea if writer Andrea Wilde and director Penelope Buitenhuis intended to make a feminist exploitation film, but that's what Boulevard is. Kari Wuhrer plays a young woman who flees to the big city after getting knocked up by her abusive boyfriend (Joel Bissonette). Once there she tries to ignore the advances of local pimp lord Hassan (an oddly effective Lou Diamond Phillips), instead preferring the company of independent hooker Ola (Rae Dawn Chong). They're soon sharing a bath, a bed, and a Maya Angelou book. Wuhrer and Chong both deliver surprisingly good performances and the always excellent Lance Henriksen is also on hand as a vice cop. And for once, this filmed in Toronto production is actually set in...Toronto! Much better than you would expect.
