Les gardiennes (2017)

Women are left behind to work a family farm during the Great War.

Director:

Xavier Beauvois

Writers:

Xavier Beauvois (screenplay), Marie-Julie Maille (screenplay)

Stars:

Nathalie Baye, Laura Smet, Iris Bry

10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nathalie Baye	...	Hortense Sandrail
Laura Smet	...	Solange
Iris Bry	...	Francine Riant
Cyril Descours	...	Georges Sandrail
Gilbert Bonneau	...	Henri Sandrail
Olivier Rabourdin	...	Clovis
Nicolas Giraud	...	Constant Sandrail
Mathilde Viseux	...	Marguerite Sandrail (as Mathilde Viseux-Ely)
Xavier Maly	...	Edgar
Marie-Julie Maille	...	La Monette
Madeleine Beauvois	...	Jeanne, la fille de la Monette
Alain Artur	...	Le maire
Adrien Denizou	...	Le maire de la Monette
Yann Bean	...	John - un soldat américain
Michel Lamy	...	Le père

Storyline

1915. Life at the Paridier farm has changed dramatically since the men of the family (Constant, Georges and Clovis) left home to go and fight on the front line. Hortense Sandrail, Henri and Constant's mother and Clovis' mother-in-law, has taken over courageously but, although helped by her daughter Solange, she finds it hard to get by with all the workload. When harvest time comes, she makes up her mind to hire a farmhand but she is too late and no man is available. The mayor then recommends her an orphan named Francine Riant, who could do. Hortense agrees and the choice soon appears a blessing, as the girl proves perfect: well-mannered and respectful, she is also a hard worker who does not balk at any task. Hortense, Solange and her form an effective trio, who make the most of the situation. One day, Georges comes back to the farm on leave and he falls in love with Francine.

---

Plot Keywords:

widows | countryside | ww1 | pregnancy | f rated | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site [France]

Country:

Switzerland France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les Gardiennes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Worso, Pathé, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (as Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

---

Soundtracks

Amours fragiles
Lyrics by Alexandre Trébitsch
Music by Harry Fragson
(1899)
Sung by Iris Bry in the final ball scene

User Reviews

Slow but beautiful

This movie does not move quickly. But it is beautifully filmed and well acted by a group of actresses headed by Natalie Baye. Not for the impatient, but it will be appreciated by those who can take the time to let it have an effect.

This is life on the home front, in the country The other side of war. No one shot at these women, but their lives were still difficult.

Interesting that the depiction of American soldiers is largely negative. They have plenty of money, and are not interested in "the locals" other than as sex objects.