Adua and Her Friends (1960) on Netflix

Plot summary

In 1958, the Merlin law makes brothels illegal in Italy, and the Rome house where Adua, Lolita, Marilina and Milly work closes. Led by Adua, the four women each contribute two million lire to open a restaurant on the outskirts of the city, intended as a front for an illegal brothel. They take a dilapidated building and have it repaired, but the authorities refuse them a permit on account of their past as prostitutes. Adua's former customer Ercoli buys the building and uses his connections to obtain the permit in his own name, charging them one million lire a month in rent. The restaurant draws customers, and the four begin living more respectably, though the rent is high.