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The Public Woman

Original title: La femme publique
  • 1984
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
The Public Woman (U.S. DVD Cover)
Drama

An inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short ... Read allAn inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short time she is unable to draw the line between acting and reality. She winds up playing a rea... Read allAn inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short time she is unable to draw the line between acting and reality. She winds up playing a real-life role posing as the dead wife of another Czech immigrant, who is manipulated by the ... Read all

  • Director
    • Andrzej Zulawski
  • Writers
    • Dominique Garnier
    • Andrzej Zulawski
  • Stars
    • Francis Huster
    • Valérie Kaprisky
    • Lambert Wilson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrzej Zulawski
    • Writers
      • Dominique Garnier
      • Andrzej Zulawski
    • Stars
      • Francis Huster
      • Valérie Kaprisky
      • Lambert Wilson
    • 11User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos25

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    Top cast32

    Edit
    Francis Huster
    Francis Huster
    • Lucas Kessling
    Valérie Kaprisky
    Valérie Kaprisky
    • Ethel
    • (as Valerie Kaprisky)
    Lambert Wilson
    Lambert Wilson
    • Milan Mliska
    Patrick Bauchau
    Patrick Bauchau
    • Le père d'Ethel
    Gisèle Pascal
    Gisèle Pascal
    • Gertrude
    Roger Dumas
    Roger Dumas
    • André, le photographe
    Diane Delor
    • Elena Mliska
    Jean-Paul Farré
    Jean-Paul Farré
    • Pierre
    Olivier Achard
    • Le premier assistant réalisateur
    Yveline Ailhaud
    • Rachel
    Michel Albertini
    • Maurice
    Marianne Basler
    Marianne Basler
    • Une jeune anarchiste
    Nathalie Bécue
    • L'habilleuse
    • (as Nathalie Becue)
    Lucas Belvaux
    Lucas Belvaux
    • François
    René Bériard
    • Mgr Shlapas
    • (as Rene Beriard)
    Marc Berman
    • Un conspirateur
    René Breuil
      Julien Bukowski
      • Un automobiliste
      • Director
        • Andrzej Zulawski
      • Writers
        • Dominique Garnier
        • Andrzej Zulawski
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Valérie Kaprisky took dance lessons to perform her two nude dance scenes. She practiced to the music of David Bowie and two of his songs were played on set during the scenes. But obtaining the rights to use Bowie's music would have eclipsed the film's entire budget, so composer Alain Wisniak had to create new music to go with the footage.
      • Alternate versions
        U.S. based video label Mondo Video selected this film as its debut release. Their 2008 DVD is the first to have English subtitles. Prior to this release, the film was only available officially in select European countries.
      • Connections
        Referenced in Druuna: Morbus Gravis (2001)
      • Soundtracks
        Grande messe en Ut' Mineur KV 427
        Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart)

      User reviews11

      Featured review

      Yet another incomprehensible, unwatchable, unredeemable mess from Zulawski

      1 star.

      Yes: again we are treated to a mess of histrionics, arm-flailings, neurotic marching to and fro, screaming, agonizing and despairing, with actors "method-acting" what the director must have been yelling at them at any random moment, like "Show me fear!" "Show me anger!" "Show me agony!" "Show me madness!" and what have you, resulting in a string of scenes coming from nowhere and going to no better end. We may discern some artistic and political topics of the day, but as is usual with such pretentious egotrips we mainly see that someone must have been primarily interested in sex scenes with the intention of ogling the nudity of the actress. Everything around that was just a smoke screen to feign "artistic motivation".

      . Many reviewers praise the leading actress Valerie Kaprisky, but we mustn't overlook the fact that they are all males salivating over her onscreen full frontal and rear nudity. It may be high time that somene had pointed out that this actress is just plain ugly ... when you care to look higher from her breasts.
      • KlaudiaKatastrofale
      • Mar 24, 2023
      • Permalink

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      FAQ14

      • How long is The Public Woman?Powered by Alexa

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • May 16, 1984 (France)
      • Country of origin
        • France
      • Language
        • French
      • Also known as
        • Die öffentliche Frau
      • Production company
        • Hachette-Fox Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 53 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.66 : 1

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