Story of Women (1988)

Marie Latour, a woman of limited schooling, raises two children in a ratty flat during World War II in occupied France. In 1941, her husband Paul returns from German captivity, too weak to ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Colo Tavernier (scenario & adaptation), Claude Chabrol (scenario & adaptation)

Stars:

Isabelle Huppert, François Cluzet, Marie Trintignant

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Huppert	...	Marie
François Cluzet	...	Paul
Marie Trintignant	...	Lulu / Lucie
Nils Tavernier	...	Lucien
Lolita Chammah	...	Mouche #2
Aurore Gauvin	...	Mouche #1
Guillaume Foutrier	...	Pierrot #1
Nicolas Foutrier	...	Pierrot #2
Marie Bunel	...	Ginette
Dominique Blanc	...	Jasmine
Evelyne Didi	...	Fernande
Dani	...	Loulou
François Maistre	...	Le président Lamarre-Coudray
Vincent Gauthier	...	Me Fillon / Judge Fillon
Myriam David	...	Rachel

Storyline

Marie Latour, a woman of limited schooling, raises two children in a ratty flat during World War II in occupied France. In 1941, her husband Paul returns from German captivity, too weak to hold a job. Marie discovers she can make money performing abortions, using a soapy water douche. Many of her clients are knocked up by occupying Germans. She buys better food and clothes, looks for a new flat, and, through an acquaintance, who is a prostitute, rents out her bedrooms to hookers during the day. She's indifferent to Paul; his humiliations grow as does her income. She hopes to be a singer. Male Vichy umbrage and moral hypocrisy may upend her. What is she thinking?

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Plot Keywords:

abortion | made an example of | children | prostitute | death sentence | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Story of Women

Filming Locations:

Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$438,483

Company Credits

Production Co:

MK2 Productions, Films A2, Les Films du Camélia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based upon the true story of Marie-Louise Giraud.

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Quotes

Lulu: What's your name?
Marie: Marie.
Lulu: Mine's Lucie. But that's no name for a hooker, so I go by Lulu.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Fat Man and Little Boy/I, Madman/Gross Anatomy/Story of Women/When the Whales Came (1989)

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Soundtracks

Ici l'on Pêche
Written by Jean Tranchant

User Reviews

Is this Chabrol?

As a great admirer of Chabrol's 'Helene cycle' of the late 60's and early 70's I approached this film with some trepidation, having been disappointed by some of his more recent work.

However I was pleasantly surprised, the film was nicely scripted and acted, period detail good and the whole felt taut and unsentimental. A previous reviewer seems surprised that Chabrol remains balanced in his views,however Chabrol often refuses to take sides and allows the viewer a freedom (almost unknown in moralising modern films)to make up their own mind. One only has to view the excellent 'Nada' to appreciate this.

I thought Isabelle Huppert was better here than in any other role i've seen her, partly because she managed to drop the somewhat smug persona she seems to bring to her roles. (yes i'm not a fan and wish Chabrol would turn his attention elsewhere). She played the central character as both cynical and devious, charmingly naive vindictive and finally empty and self loathing. A real acting masterclass.

Much as I enjoyed this film though it left me rather empty at the end, indeed there really was little I cared about, both in terms of character and plot. All the usual questions one feels need answering were absent, the curious unease and ambiguity gone. The Chabrol appeared to be absent from this nevertheless efficient and entertaining Claude Chabrol film.