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Hillary, one of the prostitutes in a family-owned brothel, dreams of being reunited with her son in America in "Area."

(BG Productions International)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Area," an unflinching film about a brothel in the Philippines, exists in the gray area between fiction and documentary. Call it a very realistic drama set amid the narrow streets, shacks and brothels in a poor neighborhood called Area.

One brothel has been owned by the same family for decades. The sex workers tease and argue like sisters as they fan themselves waiting for customers. One of the prostitutes, Hillary, is saving money to travel to the United States to find the son she hasn't heard from in years. The others ridicule her for holding on to a pipe dream.

As business at the brothel lags, the owners wonder if it's time to shut it down, and Hillary's life takes an unforeseen turn. "Area" has moments when it could have used editing. But the women at the center of "Area" - who face life with dignity and humor - are fascinating.

REVIEW

Area

What: Directed by Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio (2016/Philippines). 106 minutes. In Tagalog and Kapampangan, with subtitiles.

When: 9:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, and 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 3, at Tower City Cinemas.

Grade: B-