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The Mad Women's Ball

Play trailer Poster for The Mad Women's Ball 2021 2h 1m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
A committed woman and a tormented nurse prepare to attend a famous ball at a neurological clinic in the 19th century.
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The Mad Women's Ball

The Mad Women's Ball

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Critics Consensus

Its themes are occasionally undercut by its storytelling, but outstanding performances give The Mad Women's Ball a poignant, disturbing power.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Levin Newsday Does not necessarily offer anything illuminating in the way it presents the patriarchal system. But it does force a confrontation with it, and never takes the easy way out. Rated: 3/4 Oct 3, 2021 Full Review Thelma Adams AARP Movies for Grownups For lovers of historical fiction, this is a thinking-woman's drama -- and bodes well for Laurent's next directing project. Rated: 4/5 Sep 24, 2021 Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News The direction and period details are first-rate and there are two very fine performances at its center. Rated: 3/4 Sep 23, 2021 Full Review Nadine Whitney The Curb Melanie Laurent’s film is a precise example of the horror and misogyny of the medical facilities and their treatment of women in the nineteenth century. Jan 10, 2025 Full Review Annlee Ellingson CineWomen The Mad Women’s Ball uses a fictional woman of privilege to tell [Louise Augustine Gleizes's] story, [and] here the points of view of the doctor and his ilk are sidelined for that of the women under his care as well as the women caring for them. Jul 28, 2024 Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage Without being combative or loaded with a strong political message, it speaks subtly of women's issues at the end of the 19th Century in France that are still relevant today. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 7, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (6) audience reviews
Marta S Preciosa película que muestra la situación en un manicomio y la indefensión de las mujeres en dicha época. Recomendable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/24 Full Review avindu g Every character in Le Bal Des Folles is acted out flawlessly. Every emotion is heartfelt and genuine. Le Bal Des Folles is rich with feminine elegance that it's horrors diminish in the bright light of victorious freedom. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review greg m Thoroughly enjoyed this. Really felt like the mystical element added to the otherwise depressing historical period piece about a Women's asylum and the awful experimentations that happened there as well as the reasons they could get institutionalized. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Allan Kardec spiritism combined with the subjugation of a french society woman in the year of Victor Hugo's death, add to the mix the inhumane treatment of the mentality ill and you have a great recipe for compelling drama.. An award worthy, very well produced, high quality period fiction. A magnificent effort from first time director Mélanie Laurent. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member My dear Geneviève, we are free… After Oxygen, Mélanie Laurent returns directing and starring in an Amazon original. As a director, Laurent did a great job showing the cruelty in the treatment of women in asylum back in the days. The "therapies" were nothing different from tortures. However, within the cruelty was the premise that added heart to the characters. I liked that the movie didn't scream feminism, but let the scenes play out so audiences could root for the women characters. Probably my only problem was the movie became pretty predictable near the end. I liked how the two main characters were tied to each other, but what became of it was quite clear and not surprising. Overall, a solid and well done movie. 7.5/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Moving, desperately sad at times, with some truly touching, tender performances. Loved it. But by gum, men have been scum through the ages! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mad Women's Ball

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Cast & Crew

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Mélanie Laurent

Director

Mélanie Laurent

Geneviève

Lou de Laâge

Eugénie

Emmanuelle Bercot

Jeanne

Benjamin Voisin

Théophile

Cédric Kahn

François Cléry

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The Mad Women's Ball

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Movie Info

Synopsis A committed woman and a tormented nurse prepare to attend a famous ball at a neurological clinic in the 19th century.
Director
Mélanie Laurent
Producer
Alain Goldman, Axelle Boucaï
Screenwriter
Mélanie Laurent
Production Co
Légende Films
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 17, 2021
Runtime
2h 1m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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