La femme enfant (1980)

Director:

Raphaële Billetdoux

Writers:

Raphaële Billetdoux (dialogue), Raphaële Billetdoux (screenplay)

Stars:

Klaus Kinski, Pénélope Palmer, Michel Robin

Cast

Cast overview:
Klaus Kinski	...	Marcel
Pénélope Palmer	...	Élisabeth
Michel Robin	...	Le père
Hélène Surgère	...	La mère
Ary Aubergé	...	L'épicier
Georges Lucas	...	Le curé

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

older man younger woman relationship | girl man relationship

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 December 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Kindfrau - Stumme Liebe

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Filmstudios, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Bavaria Atelier, Les Films de l'Alma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

User Reviews

A lovely, bittersweet story

The protagonist is a musically-gifted young woman (hence, a "woman-child") who is an outcast both from her cold, uncaring family and from her village. She shares an unusual friendship with an older man (Klaus Kinski), also an outcast.

Comparisons between this film and, say, "Lolita" are inevitable, because of the characters' age difference and because of one scene where she dances costumed like a gypsy, to the seeming delight of Kinski's character. There is also one scene (filmed tastefully from the back) where she climbs into the bath while he is in the same room.

But to focus on these elements is to miss the point of the film -- that, because they are estranged from everyone else, they must draw strength from one another. Kudos to writer-director Raphaelle Billetdoux for this lovely, bittersweet film about the loneliness and pain of growing up; of being different; and, quite simply, of having to live; beautifully photographed, with a vivid performance from the young actress and an unusually sensitive performance by Kinski as the girl's companion and confidante.