Review of 8 Women (2002) by Aurélien L — 16 Mar 2009

This movie was bizarre, no two ways about it. It starts out as this kind of charming comedy/ musical/ murder mystery and by the end of the movie everyone is a lesbian or a murderer or both or, in the case of the eldest daughter, carrying the child of her adoptive father.

However, despite all the bizarre and nonsensical plot twists, the movie actually saves itself from being too bizarre. The actresses in this film are all first rate and they play off of each other perfectly- there isn't a single missed note anywhere, in any scene, with any pairing.

For me, the standout of the evening was Catherine Deneuve, who is always timeless and completely fabulous. One of my favorite parts of the film was the little musical numbers slipped in at different spots which I can only assume communicate something about the inner psyches of the characters that are singing them.

My two favorites were sung by the youngest daughter at the beginning of the movie and the song by the maid that came near the end. I'd actually listen to those again. The production of the film was good, the candy-floss interiors and costumes provided an interesting foil for the complexity of the characters.

In all, this film is only for people who are hardcore French cinema fans, there are lots of comedies for the uninitiated. However, this movie is worth a look for those who want to expand their views of the French cinematic cannon.