Set in a snowbound French country mansion sometime in the 1950s, 8 Femmes is based on a stage play of the same name by Robert Thomas. The eight women and one man are holed up in the mansion during the festive season, and no this isn't some kind of French soft-porn romp.
The eight women are hardly friends, but all have some connection to Marcel (Dominique Lamure). There is his wife, Gaby (Catherine Deneuve), his daughters Suzon (Virginie Ledoyen) and Catherine (Ludivine Sagnier), his mother-in-law Mamy (Danielle Darrieux), his sister-in-law Augustine (Isabelle Huppert), his sister Pierrette (Fanny Ardent), the chambermaid Louise (Emmanuelle Beart) and the cook, Chanel (Firmine Richard).
Sisters in arms.
When Louise finds Marcel with a knife is his back, the women are initially shocked, but this soon gives way to paranoia as accusations fly and guards begin to slip. Loose lips sink ships, and quite frankly, we have an armada in trouble right here. All is not as it seems with the eight women, and all have secrets that they do not wish to share. But it is too late for some, as their secrets are not as secret as they thought.
As suspicion works its way around and through the group, truths become lies, lies are glossed over, the gloss begins to crack and there aren't enough fingers of blame to cover it. With the phone lines cut, the car engine sabotaged, the mansion gates blocked, and the body (and presumably the killer) still in the house, the eight women turn on each other and no one is spared the acerbic wit, the bitchy comments, guilt by association, accusations and secrets revealed. With eight possible suspects, and all with something to hide, few of them seem visibly upset that the common link, Marcel, is dead, but no one wants to ‘fess up.
This film is an odd little gem really. It borders on parody and occasionally melodrama and farce, there are some wickedly amusing lines and retorts, a song from each cast member (yes, it could be classed as a musical) and genuine mystery (whodunit style) drama, all wrapped up in one package. To be honest, I'm not sure the songs really work, but neither do they ruin the experience.
The film definitely has the look and feel of a play, the cast are superb, the sets and costumes are cartoonish in appearance (paying homage to the '50s Hollywood murder mysteries), the action fast and fluid, and the script reasonably tight and certainly intriguing. The 8 Femmes have stories that are more interwoven than anyone could possibly imagine, and there are numerous twists and surprises, some deliberately predictable, some not.
One body, eight suspects, (8 Femmes). Whodunit? You'll have to watch it to find out.
Video
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Ah, magnifique! OK enough of my lousy French. This transfer is just about perfect. The aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (16:9 enhanced) is adequate enough to capture all the action. The pan and scan option should be avoided (as always) as the burned in subtitles tend to get chopped off, and when they come this fast, you'll have enough trouble keeping up when you can see all of the text. You will have no chance if you have to work some of the words out.
Aside from that, this is beautiful, and the director's deliberate use of vivid and bold colours works a treat. There are no problems whatsoever with colour bleeding, even in the deepest reds and no interference from noise. The opening scenes are quite beautiful and are so sharp they look like Pixar animation. The whole film is razor sharp, and never drops in quality.
Black levels are excellent, shadow detail is fantastic, and there is no shimmer or aliasing. There is no evidence of grain, and no artefacts such as dirt, blobs, specks or dust. There is not even a layer change.
Discounting the pan and scam option, this is a perfect 10.
Audio
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There are two French options for all you Francophiles out there, but no English audio (which would be dubbed anyway and therefore rubbish so that's a good thing), with burnt-in subtitles that run fairly quickly, so keep the remote handy and your finger hovering over the pause button.
The Dolby 5.1 has super fidelity, and even though the dialogue and most sound effects are front and centre, the whole thing sounds well balanced. There are no issues with clarity, but I can't be quite so sure about the synchronisation. With the dialogue flying thick and fast, it is not easy to read it and watch lips. The musical numbers do have some lip-synch issues though.
The rear channels are heavily utilised for the score that is quite aggressive at times, but sounds good. The subwoofer is also called on from time to time, mostly during the musical numbers.
The Dolby 2.0 is likewise clear and clean, but lacks the encompassing score from the rear channels.
Extras
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Unlike the R2 releases (yes, there is a French two and a three-disc release), that include literally bundles of extras, all we in Region 4 get is a crappy theatrical trailer that is a bog-standard non-16:9 enhanced, short, Dolby stereo effort. Yawn.
Overall
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The jury seems hung on this one. Many think it is a great film, others think it is totally misguided and trying to work on too many levels. I think it is a case of watch it and make up your own mind. For mine, the songs could have been dropped and it would have worked just as well (and shed about 20 minutes) but no matter. There are some decent laughs, the chance to play amateur sleuth, and at the very least, it offers something different. Viva la France!
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