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 | prostitute | women's prison | made an example of | adultery | 

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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

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Quotes

Marie: And there's Pierrot. You too, ducky. Come dance with Mommy.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Fun on the Fair
Written by John Leach

User Reviews

An amazing film loosely based on the last woman in France to be guillotined. Her crime is performing abortions.

I'd like to focus on this film as a French film, not of the United States. If one has seen "La Chagrin et la Pitie," then one knows the legacy of this film. France was not perfect during WWII. Not everyone in France was part of the resistance, mainly, they were trying to survive. I think its an amazing film that sheds light on a crucial point in French history. Yes, it's about abortion and Chabrol does a great job ensuring his abortionist is less than perfect. That's a wonderful point he makes, that no one is perfect, not even the moral majority of the government. But, I come away from this film with the same questions that I get from "Lacombe, Lucien," which are: 'what would I have done?' And, please, don't Monday morning quarterback World War II.