Women (French: Elles) is a 1997 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Portuguese filmmaker Luís Galvão Teles, shot in Lisbon. The film blends international influences, creating a tone described by critics as reminiscent of French comedy infused with Iberian drama. The film was selected as the Luxembourgish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 70th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
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Plot summary
The film follows five middle-aged women in Lisbon — longtime friends who support one another through life's inevitable changes and losses. Linda (Carmen Maura), a television journalist with a fiery temperament, interviews her friends about their three greatest wishes while carrying on a complicated affair with young director Gigi (Joaquim de Almeida). Eva (Miou-Miou), a widowed professor, becomes involved in a passionate affair with a young student who happens to be the son of her friend Barbara (Marthe Keller), a hypochondriac who maintains an ambiguous relationship with her ex-husband Edgar. Chloé (Marisa Berenson) attempts to balance a life between her troubled past and a secret she keeps hidden, while actress Branca (Guesch Patti) enjoys her turbulent life while navigating a conflicted relationship with her daughter.
Reception
The film received a mixed critical reception. Reviewing the film for the Los Angeles Times, critic Kevin Thomas described it as "a woman's film of the old-fashioned variety, affording good roles for five internationally renowned actresses." The New York Times noted the film benefits from the "commanding presence" of Carmen Maura, a regular in Pedro Almodóvar's films.
Cast
Miou-Miou as Eva
Carmen Maura as Linda
Marthe Keller as Barbara
Marisa Berenson as Chloé
Guesch Patti as Branca
Joaquim de Almeida as Gigi
Didier Flamand as Edgar