British director Jon Sanders helmed this British-Canadian period re-creation of a 19th-century Midwestern prairie town's bordello run by tough madam Annie Ryan (
Brenda Fricker). Despite competition during the 1870s, Ryan manages to maintain the business with her staff of frontier women: Married to a drunk, mother Nettie (
Kelly McGillis) supports her child by moonlighting as an abortionist. Age is fast catching up with Ada (Anna Mottram), who now draws fewer customers, while youthful Georgie (
Lisa Jakub) unwittingly betrays Ada. After another woman in the house is shot, German dancer Katya (Meret Becker) is the stand-offish newcomer who steps in as a replacement. Katya uses her alleged psychic powers to contact the departed family of Irish lass Eileen (Bronagh Gallagher), destined for a tragic situation. Actress Mottram co-scripted with director Sanders. Filmed in Saskatchewan locations and shown at the 1998 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide