Believe it or not, the only attractive parts of this movie are its credits. Shown in the very beginning and at the very end. Reason: they show Brigitte Bardot's lovely moving mouth, setting off its usual sparks. In between 'Les Femmes' is flat and uninspiring. Even Bardot's brief nude appearance does not change that.
7 Reviews
BB goes Zzzzzzz....
anawesomemoviefanatic14 November 2003
I love Brigitte Bardot, but out of the handful of films I've seen of hers, this one bored me to death. She is the only redeeming feature of it, of course. It was dull, had an uninspired script, and really didn't go anywhere. Bardot isn't really given much to do either, as a secretary named Clara. I'm not familiar with Maurice Ronet but I can say that I really didn't care too much for his character in the film. I actually liked "Don Juan: or if Don Juan were a woman", which is simliar to this film in a few ways, a lot better - even though that one is still pretty corny. And what a coincidence, that film also features Maurice Ronet. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. Basically, "Les Femmes" is good for Bardot fans or insomniacs. Bardot looks adorable, strutting through the streets of Rome, her blonde hair wild and free. Her character is pretty ditzy - she says random things like, "Oh, I love smoking in the dark, but I hate the taste of tobacco!" and "I just love the countryside! It's so big!" and so forth. If they were trying to put forth some sort of message through this movie, I didn't really get it. All I got was that Bardot looks very sexy taking a bath.
Low-Grade BB Flick!
shepardjessica-121 December 2004
Not one of Ms. Bardot's better efforts, but it's certainly not her fault. She simply isn't in it enough. No offense to Maurice Ronet (a capable actor), but the script plods along with no purpose or flare. Ms. Bardot is enchanting as usual (near the end of her early retirement), but the main character/author is pretty worthless and common without being evil.
A 3 out of 10. Best performance = Brigitte. Some lovely ladies and nice location shots, but there's not much to recommend beside BB's appearance (interesting character with a better script). It just isn't interesting or insightful. Minor nudity.
A 3 out of 10. Best performance = Brigitte. Some lovely ladies and nice location shots, but there's not much to recommend beside BB's appearance (interesting character with a better script). It just isn't interesting or insightful. Minor nudity.
"The best relationships are the superficial ones..."
planktonrules28 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Yikes...this movie scares me a bit. Let me give you a bit of background. In this film, a best-selling author has writer's block, so his agent arranges to get him a personal secretary who will work with him, baby him and sleep with him--whatever this successful man needs. Why does that intimidate me? Well, my wife is a best-selling author and I sure hope she doesn't ask for something like this!! Considering how well her books have been selling, they might just give her one!! Maurice Ronet plays the author who is a complete pig. He is talented but also exceptionally shallow, as he cannot maintain a relationship with a woman. Instead, he uses them and the only thing he REALLY is interested in is sex....or wanting to possess a woman if another man wants her! Yet despite being a shallow pig, he's been able to have some amazing women in his life--women he was completely incapable of loving. He also, apparently, has no problem smacking one 'when she needs it'! Brigitte Bardot answers the ad in the paper for an assistant that is willing to act as a secretary AND sexual plaything! At first, she's offended but then rather inexplicably takes the job. Most of the time, she types up his memoirs--as he muses about his many shallow relationships. He doesn't see this as a problem--his only problem is that ultimately most of these women want commitment. Later, when he goes to bed and expects sex from his assistant, she is willing to follow the letter of the agreement. She is willing to sleep with him but puts absolutely nothing into this--lying there rigidly and putting no emotion into it. As a result, he's turned off and very frustrated--but she IS following the agreement. The longer this takes place, the more he wants her.
Towards the end, for the first time, she begins to show interest in her piggish boss--and he shows less piggishness. And she runs to him and they finally make love. By this point I was VERY frustrated because of the bad message this gives to women. However, in a wonderful twist, the next day she is gone--and he, for once, is left alone and wanting commitment which he never is going to get. And so ends the movie--with a sad man who FINALLY realizes what he really needs from a woman.
In many ways this reminds me of the Truffaut film "The Man Who Loved Women", though this film is a bit better than "The Vixen". One of the reasons was the dreadful organ music (organ music?!)--it just sounded cheap. Another, and this was WEIRD, but "The Vixen" had a bloody bullfight scene--which is weird considering Ms. Bardot's VERY public anti-animal cruelty stance.
By the way, there is a lot of nudity in this film--something you may want to consider before watching it. And, as is typical of most of Bardot's films, the nudity is on the part of other women--in all of her scenes the naughty bits (a "Monty Python" term for nudity) are covered.
Towards the end, for the first time, she begins to show interest in her piggish boss--and he shows less piggishness. And she runs to him and they finally make love. By this point I was VERY frustrated because of the bad message this gives to women. However, in a wonderful twist, the next day she is gone--and he, for once, is left alone and wanting commitment which he never is going to get. And so ends the movie--with a sad man who FINALLY realizes what he really needs from a woman.
In many ways this reminds me of the Truffaut film "The Man Who Loved Women", though this film is a bit better than "The Vixen". One of the reasons was the dreadful organ music (organ music?!)--it just sounded cheap. Another, and this was WEIRD, but "The Vixen" had a bloody bullfight scene--which is weird considering Ms. Bardot's VERY public anti-animal cruelty stance.
By the way, there is a lot of nudity in this film--something you may want to consider before watching it. And, as is typical of most of Bardot's films, the nudity is on the part of other women--in all of her scenes the naughty bits (a "Monty Python" term for nudity) are covered.
Enjoyed "Les Femmes" Throughout
bonfirexx29 November 2007
This film maintains interest because of it's duality of purpose and accomplishment. It is, at once, a witty "battle of the sexes" repartee vehicle, while making it's essential points via humor, instead of using more direct means. It does this while portraying the film's protagonist as a shallow, womanizing predator, thus many female viewers, recognizing the type, will resent this film.
But, throughout the film, the male anti-hero is disarmingly honest as to his superficiality, and his lack of commitment intentions with his many female "love interests," which, of course, poses a distinct challenge to them all, and makes him all the more desirable and successful in his dalliances.
Bardot, nearing 35 when this film was made, is nevertheless coquettish and cute, and no pushover for the man's sexual aggressiveness, giving her an independent ambiance and a social maturity aspect not readily found in her earlier films.
Wonderfully sensual and intellectually deep in her on-again, off-again role as Maurice Ronet's primary non-Bardot love interest in the film, is Kristina Holm, in her solitary film credit I can find listed. Anney Duperey is saddled with a self-conscious "virginal mentality" role, which does neither her nor the film any positive service. This is a waste of a beautiful young woman's considerable talent and charm.
The film has a nice balance of interior shots, as well as urban and countryside locations. I find it's innate charm, light-hearted buoyancy, and nicely-edited, agreeably-paced style perfect for an evening's entertainment.
But, throughout the film, the male anti-hero is disarmingly honest as to his superficiality, and his lack of commitment intentions with his many female "love interests," which, of course, poses a distinct challenge to them all, and makes him all the more desirable and successful in his dalliances.
Bardot, nearing 35 when this film was made, is nevertheless coquettish and cute, and no pushover for the man's sexual aggressiveness, giving her an independent ambiance and a social maturity aspect not readily found in her earlier films.
Wonderfully sensual and intellectually deep in her on-again, off-again role as Maurice Ronet's primary non-Bardot love interest in the film, is Kristina Holm, in her solitary film credit I can find listed. Anney Duperey is saddled with a self-conscious "virginal mentality" role, which does neither her nor the film any positive service. This is a waste of a beautiful young woman's considerable talent and charm.
The film has a nice balance of interior shots, as well as urban and countryside locations. I find it's innate charm, light-hearted buoyancy, and nicely-edited, agreeably-paced style perfect for an evening's entertainment.
Great film by Jean Aurel, full of poetry.
miguel-durand6 June 2007
This is my first comment, and I am writing this review out of frustration reading such low ratings for this film by Jean Aurel. I have seen this film many times..., BB is so beautiful, but this is only the premium, the surplus value. Now, why this a good film ?... because the subject is well treated, with finesse. The main character, the writer, with his voice sometimes in off, sometimes dictating to his secretary (BB) explains his visions on women, relationships, broken relationships, freedom, writing, confusion, free love, man-woman behavior, marriage, man poetry with love and feelings, etc. Jean Aurel knows how to go deeper but stay human, fragile; and allow us to enjoy very good scenes, (it comes to mind, his girlfriend posing for pictures with this perfect wild jazz drumming. Superbe). No dull performances or out context. By the way, "Il a y deux femmes en vous"... It works all the time. I wonder if this film inspired L'homme qui aimait les femmes" by F. Truffaut. It seems to me Truffaut is paying tribute to Jean Aurel's great film. 8/10
Not the best Bardot movie but worth to see
Bardotsalvador8 January 2011
I saw this movie few days ago in a DVD the movie is long and not the best of Bardot movies but she is charming and beautiful as always, Brigitte look really good and at this time she was not pay much attention to the role she play or the movies she did she don't care anymore and she just was becoming a fashion icon and a singer , but i will recommended the movie for Bardot she look so beautiful and chic , Maurice Ronet another super star of the 60s play the lead he was by this time a real a star in Europe he was the leading lady of the time he has play opposite Sara Montiel ,Jeanne Moreau ,Catherine Denueuve , and Romy Schneider among s others
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