From director Claude Chabrol (Le Boucher), from the title it was no obvious what the story or plot of this French film would involve, but I was introduced to it because of the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and if it featured in it that was good enough reason for me it a chance. Basically set in World War II, France is occupied by the Nazis, Marie Latour (Isabelle Huppert) is a mother with two children she raises in a decayed flat, she has limited education from her schooling, and her husband Paul (François Cluzet) who was on the front has returned home. Paul's weakness is causing him problems holding a job, so it is up to Marie to make money somehow to support the family, and she discovers a way to use soapy water douche as a way to abort unwanted babies of women, and she charges them for this service. Many of the women she performs abortions for have been impregnated by Germans occupying the country, and with the money she makes she can afford a new flat with more bedrooms, she also rents the bedrooms to prostitutes to take their clients during the day, and she can buy better food and new clothes. Eventually this good fortune turns sour when Paul becomes dismissive towards Marie because he knows what she has been doing for prostitutes and pregnant women, but she is keen to find another career in singing, but of course the authorities catch onto what she is up to, so she is arrested, and becomes one of the last women in France to be guillotined. Also starring Marie Trintignant as Lulu / Lucie and Nils Tavernier as Lucien. I did not realise it was based on a true story, but it makes sense when I think about it, because the harshness of the plot is realistic, and the way that it is played out is well done, the performance of Huppert is suitable for the character as well, it can be uncomfortable in moments, but it is an intriguing Second World War drama. It was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Worth watching!
Review of Story of Women
