Product: 8 Women (2002)
Rating: 4.0
Quirky Little Charmer of a Film
If it weren't for the quality of the cast (Catherine Deneuve, Isabel Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Emmaunuelle Beart, et al) this lonely DVD might not capture the eye of the casual movie buyer/renter. But no matter the reason for watching this, here is a spoofy little surprise that once you allow yourself into relaxing into the parody and 50's sets/costumes/mindsets you'll hopefully find entrancing. The story is a simple one: a household of 8 women ranging from grandmaother through daughters and grandaughters to house staff are all implicated in a sudden murder of the 'man of the house'. How this plays out is part Agatha Christie and part 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg'! The biting dialogue is interspersed with songs (well sung and performed) until the murder is cleverly solved without anyone getting off untainted. A terrific little diversion with a true gallic flair for the surreal.