8 Women (2002)

The cream of France's cinema sirens star in the deliciously candy-colored 8 Femmes, a murder mystery speckled with ornate performances that play up the public image of the actresses themselves. Eight women find themselves snowbound in a house with a dead man--a man each of them (his wife, sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, daughters, housekeeper, and chambermaid) had reason to kill. Secrets tumble forth, accusations fly, catfights flare, and confrontations turn steamy, all accompanied by campy performances of 1960s French pop songs. At first, these musical numbers seem like pure kitsch, comic and entertaining, but over the movie's course, they become strangely touching. Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Virginie Ledoyen, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart, Isabelle Huppert, Ludivine Sagnier, and Firmine Richard are all superb, investing their cardboard characters with a strange emotional resonance--and their costumes are exquisite. An entrancing piece of giddy fluff. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

8 curious women

The story was interesting from beginning to end. the actors are briliant and the twists along the story are each time more revealing!! A very good movie with the best actresses from France! What more do you want! April 22, 2008

8 Women, where the murder is almost irrelevant, the songs are great and the women...ah, the women

8 Women is a lightweight, stylish and funny murder mystery. But forget the murder. The movie really is a terrific excuse to have several of France's greatest actresses strut their stuff. We might as well get the plot out of the way quickly. There's a snowed-in country home, elegant looking and filled with elegant women. A man is found dead and one of the women in the house killed him. Who and why?

In addition to the male corpse, there's the corpse's wife, his mother-in-law, his two daughters, his sister, his sister-in-law, the chambermaid and the housekeeper. In order, they are Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Virginie Ledoyan and Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Ardant, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart and Firmine Richard. And as they tell us their stories, while the corpse stays chilled in an upstairs bedroom, they each sing French pop songs. It's all odd, funny and endearing. If they all look much like a selection of French bon bons, that's because the movie itself looks like a colorful candy box.

Isabelle Huppert is one of my favorite actresses in any language, and it was good to see her play an amusing part for a change. I'm not sure how many other actresses of her caliber can glare and make it funny. Danielle Darrieux at 85 is a wonder. The sight of Fannie Ardant and Catherine Deneuve rolling around on the floor in a semi-Sapphic tussle was gripping. And those who want to have their illusions about tomboys shattered, just watch Sagnier as the youngest daughter here and then as the under-clothed bombshell she played the following year in Swimming Pool.

Who is the killer? You won't find out from me, although that's scarcely the point of the movie. As Darrieux tells us in song, "There is no happy love." Still, murder can be a pleasure when it involves these eight actresses.

8 Women is an easy movie to watch more than once. The DVD picture and audio are first-rate. December 26, 2007

A mystery story worthy of Hitchcock

I really enjoyed this movie. It is a thriller/mystery where a murder has been committed and it is plain that it has to be one of 8 women, but who exactly. Everyone appears to have a good reason to have committed the act and the accusations, jealousies and intrigues are rife.

A treat to have some of the very top French actresses all in the same film and the acting is great. December 16, 2007

Very cute and clever modern murder mystery

This musical is a feel-good without making you feel bad for feeling good. It is fun, hip, cute, the clothes are adorable. The acting is great. The songs aren't painful and the plot is classic. I think the concept of this movie is great. The end. November 26, 2007

Fun, cheerful movie to watch on a rainy day

Know the saying "so bad it's good"? That's probably how you can sum up "8 Women" I can understand anyone putting this movie down. They are the ones that are looking for "substance." But as the Amazon review said, it's "giddy fluff." And I agree with one reviewer who said "it's out there, but engaging." (It deals with lesbianism, incest, and adultery). It is not supposed to be taken seriously. It's cute, funny, and has some very catchy songs and dances all wrapped up into a murder mystery. This is the kind of movie I would usually give 1 star to because it is corny and has no real plot line, but somehow I really like it. I think it is one of the few "corny" movies you will like. The performances are up to par, and it really seems like these great French actresses are in on the "corniness" of the movie and are just having fun. I think I enjoyed it too because I like anything that is French : ) This is a great movie to watch when its raining and you want something to cheer you up. I reccommend it. November 19, 2007

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