By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Jean-Pierre Denis
Starring: Isabelle Renaud | Julie-Marie Parmentier | Sylvie Testud
Original language title: Les Blessures Assassines
Country: france
Year: 2002
Running time: 94
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0216578
Laura says: “Denis’ claustrophobic film evokes the sinister European wartime era feel of DOCTEUR PETIOT) where close houses hide dark secrets, and the downtrodden dankness of Claude Chabrol’s biopic of Marie Latour (THE STORY OF WOMEN), who was executed for performing abortions during wartime. Denis and Halberstadt lay their groundwork confusingly, hinting that Christine may have been abused by her father. It takes a while to sort out characters and relationships, with the actress cast as Emilia as a child resembling Testud, while the one who plays Christine does not. Once the adult actresses take over, footing is regained and the escalating sense of doom Denis attains recalls Chabrol’s modern set LA CEREMONIE where another set of women, one stronger and crazier, lash out at a bourgeois family. Director of photography Jean Marc Fabre shoots
daytime duties in a steely blue light while sisterly evenings are have the glow of candlelight.
“Testud and Parmentier are totally different and perfectly paired. Their interplay is fascinating to watch with Testud creating a pet of the uncorrupted sweet child she will totally corrupt. When the murder happens, shocking as it is (Christine gouges out the mother’s eyes while the daughter is savagely hacked with a knife), it is also inevitable. ” 3 1/2 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/murderousmaids.htm”
Robin says: “Sylvie Testud and Julie Marie Parmentier are superb as the Papin Sisters. Testud, as Christine, is the strong-willed soeur who has serious problems with her lot and has a hard time curbing her venom before her employers. When she gets her little sister a job with her in the Lancelin home things seem to be on an even keel but, as resentment builds in Christine’s troubled mind, the inevitable happens. Testud deftly walks the line between sanity and madness in her portrayal of the murderess-to-be.
“Parmentier has a tough role as the naïve, hopeful Lea and the actress does a solid job in portraying the sweet, not-to-bright younger sister. Lea’s loyalty to Christine remains until the bitter end when they are sentenced and learn that they will not, as they had hoped, stay together forever. Testud and Parmentier capture the screen and keep a firm hold on your attention to the finale.
“MURDEROUS MAIDS pulls no punches in its depiction of the lives of the Papin sister and the events that led to their notorious rise to infamy in 1930’s France. The video quality is a distraction at times but not an insurmountable one. ” 3 1/2 cats
For Robin’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/murderousmaids.htm”