rating:
(out of
4 stars)France, Italy; 2002
Directed by François Ozon; produced by Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier; written by Marina de Van, François Ozon
Starring Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Béart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
Agatha Christie is a name that more than once will pop into your head while
watching '8 Femmes', another interesting film from French director François
Ozon. It is a murder mystery starring the best of French actresses with plot
twist after plot twist. In between every single woman performs a musical
number. Seriously, the film combines so many things we have already seen in
such a strange way that it becomes completely original on its own. In that
way I was reminded of 'Moulin Rouge!', the 2001 version. That film was also
original in the way it used one familiar element after another in a
different way the audience expect it.
From the beginning we can think it spoofs the Hollywood musical with the way
it presents some typical images. When the first woman starts singing out of
the blue we are pretty sure. The film works for a couple of reasons. The
story starts in a house with seven women, one will arrive a little later. By
the time she arrives the seven others have discovered Marcel (Dominique
Lamure) in his bed with a knife in his back. All women are related to Marcel
in one way or another. We have the wife, her mother, two daughters, a
sister, the wife's sister, a made and a mistress, also a made. All are
possible suspects, clues are slowly given, we can never be sure. Although
the film is not really about this story it is interesting enough to keep our
attention.
The real fun comes from these great French actresses having a very good
time. Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Ardant,
Firmine Richard, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Béart and Virginie Ledoyen
play the women and they all find the perfect note for their character. I
guess it is the best way to describe the film, fun. Fun guessing, fun with
the actresses, fun with the colorful images, fun with the musical numbers.
'8 Femmes' is different than other films and that alone makes the film worth
watching. There is a lot more though.