Plot
In France in 1942 a young Jewish woman, Léna, is interned by the Vichy authorities and risks deportation to Nazi Germany. Michel, one of the guards, offers to save her by marrying her. They escape on foot over the Alps to Italy. After the war they settle in Lyon, where Michel opens a garage and Léna has two daughters with him. At a school event she meets another mother, Madeleine, married with one son. The two women become close friends and the two husbands get along with each other, though both men are secretly jealous of the bond their wives share. Madeleine has a brief affair with her former art teacher, for which Léna lends her flat. Unfortunately, Michel comes home at lunchtime and finds the guilty couple. This turns him against Madeleine, and Léna's friendship with her. The two women were planning to open a dress shop, which Michel says he will finance provided it is without Madeleine, who has gone off to Paris. Taking a night train to go and see her, Léna has a sexual encounter with a soldier, her first experience apart from Michel and very enjoyable. In Paris, the two women dance and get drunk in a night club and fall into bed together. But Léna has not realised the fragility of Madeleine, who is placed in a mental hospital and then released to the care of her parents. Going to see her, Léna takes her out to show her the new dress shop. Unfortunately, Michel drops in and on seeing Madeleine there smashes the place up. Léna takes Madeleine and their children away to a rented house beside the sea, where Michel turns up trying for reconciliation. An end caption says that Madeleine died.Cast
* Miou-Miou as Madeleine Segara née Vernier * Isabelle Huppert as Lena Korski née Weber * Guy Marchand as Michel Korski * Jean-Pierre Bacri as Costa Segara * Robin Renucci as Raymond * Patrick Bauchau as Roland Carlier * Jacques Alric as Mr. Vernier * Jacqueline Doyen as Mme. Vernier * Saga Blanchard as Sophie * Guillaume Le Guellec as René Segara * Christine Pascal as Sarah * Corinne Anxionnaz as 'unnamed' * Jacques Blal as Lionel Feldman * Bernard Cazassus as Le chef de gare * Gérard Chambre as FlirtAwards and nominations
Won
* San Sebastián International Film Festival, San Sebastián Film Festival ** FIPRESCI Prize (Diane Kurys)Nominated
* Academy Awards ** Best Foreign Language Film * César Awards ** Best Actor – Supporting Role (Guy Marchand) ** Best Actress – Leading Role (Miou-Miou) ** Best Film ** Best Screenplay – Original (Diane Kurys and Alain Le Henry)See also
* Isabelle Huppert on screen and stage * List of submissions to the 56th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film * List of French submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language FilmReferences
External links
* * * * {{French submission for Academy Awards 1983 films 1980s biographical drama films French biographical drama films Films directed by Diane Kurys Films set in the 1940s Films set in the 1950s 1980s French-language films Gaumont Film Company films 1983 drama films 1980s French films