Is Maggie Gyllenhaal's message of women's empowerment just a lip service?
In 'The Deuce', Maggie Gyllenhaal stars alongside James Franco who has been accused of sexual harassment by five women
Maggie Gyllenhaal stuns in 'The Duece' as Candy, the ambitious hooker-turned-adult-film-director who refused to back down in the face of rampant misogyny. Candy was a feminist voice in the porn industry of the 1970s and, in the show, Maggie portrays the character perfectly. Her quiet elegance, her burning ambition and her refusal to stay beneath men make Candy an empowering character.
The character has its roots in the life of late porn star and director Candida Royalle. Royalle is a legend in the history of female-centric porn — she made films that counteracted the typical misogynistic nature of sex films back then. Candy's determination and her vision is similar to Royalle's.
