8 femmes (2002)

Director:

François Ozon

Writers:

François Ozon (writer)
Robert Thomas (play)

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Tagline:

Living in a house full of women can be murder.

Plot:

One murdered man, eight women, each seeming to be more eager than the others to know the truth. Gimme, gimme, gimme some clues to make up my mind. And eventually enter the truth. Oh, thou cruel woman!

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Maid | Seduction | Pregnancy | Digit In Title

Awards:

8 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Danielle Darrieux	...	Mamy
Catherine Deneuve	...	Gaby
Isabelle Huppert	...	Augustine
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Louise
Fanny Ardant	...	Pierrette
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Suzon
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Catherine
Firmine Richard	...	Madame Chanel
Dominique Lamure	...	Marcel, the husband

Also Known As:

8 Women (International: English title)
8 donne e un mistero (Italy)
Huit femmes (France) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

BIM

Trivia:

When Louise shows a photo of her former employer, it is a picture of Romy Schneider.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): On two occasions the ladies refer to the gun as a revolver but it is clearly a semi-automatic pistol.

Quotes:

Pierrette: As you ladies want the whole truth, I'd like to add a tidbit of information you lack.
Gaby: What is it this time?
Pierrette: Marcel and your new maid, Louise, have known each other for five years.
Gaby: What?
Pierrette: Five years of rented rooms and secret weekends. This winter you needed a maid, so Louise got hired.
[leaning in towards Gaby]
Pierrette: It's called "in-home service."

Movie Connections:

References Laura (1944)

Soundtrack:

Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux

well worth seeing just for its "strangeness" factor

While this isn't a great film, and at times it was just too "talky", I strongly admire the attempt by those involved to make something different. The movie is an odd blend of several types of films and the end result certainly is odd. Imagine taking an episode of MURDER SHE WROTE or an Agatha Christie novel as your basic plot. Then, combine it with the movie THE WOMEN--add a little sexual farce--then throw in a few really silly song and dance numbers and you get this movie! The songs are generally, very silly and in some cases sung by women who have no right singing on film--and that, to me, makes them even entertaining by their downright cheesiness.

The 8 Women happen to consist of the household where the only man, Marcel, is found dead. Which one of these women is responsible is unknown and from then on, the movie slowly unravels its many bizarre plot devices--bisexuality, incest, adultery,...you name it. While the film is in no way explicit, they certainly talk about a lot of vices so this isn't the best film for the kiddies! Interestingly enough, the producers for this French film must have "broken the bank" to secure the talents of so many famous and high-salary actresses. While only Catherine Deneuve will be known to the average American, several other cast members are among the top box office draws in France and includes Isabelle Huppert (who is, without a doubt, the funniest and best character among the 8), Emmanuelle Béart, Fanny Ardant and Danielle Darrieux (as the second funniest character). The other actresses, while less famous, equip themselves well in the movie.

Despite some lulls and a completely unbelievable plot, the movie keeps you guessing and is well worth finding. Certainly far from perfect, but fun nevertheless.