The Fundy Film Society

8 Femmes

The recent number one box office hit in the history of French cinema, 8 Femmes, adapted from a half-forgotten play by Robert Thomas, is an exquisitely delectable, murder-mystery farce set in a snow-bound mansion in 1950s France. Teenager Catherine (Ludivine Sagnier, My Wife Is An Actress) receives a major shock when she discovers her ‘Papa’ dead in bed, apparently murdered. Everyone immediately becomes a suspect – Catherine’s sister Suzon (Virginie Ledoyen, The Beach), their mother Gaby (Catherine Deneuve, East-West), Gaby’s sister Augustine (Isabelle Huppert, Piano Teacher), the dead man’s sister Pierrette (Fanny Ardant, Callas Forever), her mother ‘Mamy’ (Dannielle Darrieux), even the maid Louise (Emmanuelle Beart, Les Destinées Sentimentales) and housekeeper Mme. Chanel (Firmine Richard). Soon the air is thick with accusations and, one-by-one, the family’s skeletons are dragged out of their closets and the eight women are confronted with more dark secrets about each other, the deceased – and themselves &#150 than they know what to do with. Director Francois Ozon (Sous le Sable) succeeds in gleefully promoting a lively atmosphere of amateur dramatic camp in the performances of his top rate award-winning cast as they revel in high ‘cinema du papa’ style replete with surprising musical numbers and elaborate dance sequences. A cinematic bauble of immense delight, 8 Femmes has the makings of a great crowd pleaser. 8 Femmes was the winner of the Readers Award for top film in the Competition of the Berlinale, the winner of the Silver Bear Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast, and the winner of the Jury Award for Direction at the Berlin Film Festival.

“A runaway hit. An all-star Agatha Christie mystery meets Vincent Minnelli musical.” – Derek Scally, Irish Times

“This unique confection from one of the country’s most gifted and prolific young filmmakers is sheer, outlandish fun.” – Kevin Lally, Film Journal International

“…the movie is all plot – that, and stylish behavior, and barbed wit, and those musical numbers. Watching 8 Femmes, you have a silly grin half of the time.” – Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times