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Elles (1997 film)

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Women
Directed byLuís Galvão Teles
Written byLuís Galvão Teles
Don Bohlinger
Produced byJani Thiltges
Claude Waringo
StarringMiou-Miou
CinematographyAlfredo F. Mayo
Edited byRegina Bärtschi
Jacques Witta
Music byAlejandro Massó
Release date
  • 17 October 1997 (1997-10-17)
Running time
115 minutes
CountriesLuxembourg
Belgium
France
LanguageFrench

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.[1] 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.[2][3]

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.[4][5]

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."[6] The New York Times noted the film benefits from the "commanding presence" of Carmen Maura, a regular in Pedro Almodóvar's films.[7]

Cast

See also

References

  1. "Film Review: More Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". The New York Times. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  3. "44 Countries Hoping for Oscar Nominations". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 24 November 1997. Archived from the original on 13 February 1998. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. "Film Review: More Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". The New York Times. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  5. "For These 'Women,' Ready or Not, Here Life Comes". Los Angeles Times. 17 September 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  6. "For These 'Women,' Ready or Not, Here Life Comes". Los Angeles Times. 17 September 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  7. "Film Review: More Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". The New York Times. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2026.