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For a Woman

2013 1h 50m Drama List
90% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
After their mother's death, a filmmaker (Sylvie Testud) and her sister discover a cache of old photos and letters that lead them to unravel their parents' tangled relationship with a mysterious uncle.

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Robert Abele Los Angeles Times There's storytelling vigor here and fine performances, plus some pointed exchanges about the burdens of cultural identity and emotional preservation in the aftermath of immense upheaval. Jun 5, 2014 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic A framing device isn't needed, but the film is compelling overall. Rated: 3.5/5 May 29, 2014 Full Review Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com "For A Woman" tells a story that is pretty much fraught with both romantic and political intrigue and it is therefore a little surprising to report that the end result is itself not especially intriguing. Rated: 2/4 May 2, 2014 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com For a Woman is an altogether enjoyable film from the steadily working Diane Kurys, and as for those new to her work, it will hopefully serve as a thread of intrigue leading to her previous titles. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 30, 2019 Full Review Marshall Fine Hollywood & Fine It pulls you in without ever hinting at where it might take you. And that's a gift. Apr 30, 2014 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice A historical drama pieced together when two sisters discover things they didn't know about their parents' life in post-World War II France. Rated: 3/5 Apr 29, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
Audience Member Little sad to watch... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This period piece was perfectly framed with a complex romantic and political intrigue set in post WWII/Holocaust era in France that unfortunately fizzled which I blame entirely on the dull actress Melanie Thierry. **SPOILER ALERT** She failed to convey the complex emotions of a character who survived and escaped the horrors of concentration camps to having the audacity to betray her savior husband by flirting with the notion of an extramarital affair with his brother. I remember that this was the same actress in the equally dull "The Princess of Montpensier" who killed what could have been a romantic swashbuckling story by failing to convince as the titular princess capable of inspiring so many men to kill for her affections. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member the story held my interest throughout, but its not something i personally liked...but im sure a lot of people will enjoy it more. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting well done story, but I found it hard to understand why he would feel closer to his brother's daughter than his own. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This French post-war drama is definitely not a comedy as listed on RT. Written and directed by Diane Kurys, it has some biographical elements and many added fictional parts to make the movie more plausible for wider audience. The combination was right, and the result is very touching and emotional story of Anne who finds out there is a family secret. She discovers that her late mother once had a love affair with her brother-in-law... who they didn't know that even existed! In 110 minutes there was enough of mystery, love, betrayal and struggle to keep everyone entertained and to keep watching but without all the "foaming" soapy elements. French stars Nicolas Duvauchelle and Benoit Magimel play Ukrainian-born but France-raised siblings, with Melanie Thierry playing the latter's young wife, who finds herself inconveniently attracted to her brother-in-law. Acting was out of this world, almost perfect... until the last few scenes where I was distracted with the ridiculously looking Magimel under so much old-age makeup, transformed to something which did not belong with the previous scenes of the movie. Odd, fake and disturbingly bad. [img]http://www.larepublique77.fr/files/2013/11/Pour-une-femme1-300x225.jpg[/img] Most of Diane Kurys films are connected to her life, and the effects of the divorce were revisited in almost all of those. The first thing you will notice in this film is how well was the spirit of the era caught on a screen, from scenography to costumes to the dialogue and acting. Everything seemed right, from the little remarks the husband was making about the length of the dress, to the helping with the laundry in the kitchen when there were no washing machines around. A real time capsule! The director's eye for a detail was amazing. It was developed at the time when she began as an actress with Jean-Louis Barrault's company. She gained film stardom, but felt unable to express herself under "the director or any kind of authority or control." That made her to transition into writing and film making with a special focus on the things which bothered her previously as an actress. If you are a fan of beautifully crafted historical (melo)drama, and you could make yourself pretend that you didn't noticed the last part with the "old Magimel", have this one on your list! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
For a Woman

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis After their mother's death, a filmmaker (Sylvie Testud) and her sister discover a cache of old photos and letters that lead them to unravel their parents' tangled relationship with a mysterious uncle.
Director
Diane Kurys
Producer
Alexandre Arcady, Diane Kurys
Screenwriter
Diane Kurys
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$28.1K
Runtime
1h 50m