In 1930s Paris, aspiring actress Madeleine is accused of murdering a lecherous producer. Seeing an opportunity for her to finally find fame, she and her lawyer friend Pauline come up with a scheme - she will plead guilty!
All goes to plan - Madeleine is acquitted on the grounds of self-defence, and she and Pauline start a new life filled with celebrity and wealth. But then the real murderer comes forward…
Featuring well-known French stars Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini and Dany Boon, alongside newcomers Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Rebecca Marder, all of whom are clearly enjoying themselves, this latest from François Ozon (Frantz, Potiche, 8 Women) is a fun, period caper, but with a sly feminist bite.
"Ozon, as ever, is not just having fun. He is also making mischief with the sexual politics of the plot. … Amid the charm and the silliness, however, it’s a shock to hear of a wife being pursued for the size of her dowry, and to reflect that French women would not be able to vote until the elections of 1945." The New Yorker
"… a sly slice of feminist triumph … Several generations of France’s finest thespians are clearly enjoying themselves in this stylish tale …" Screen International
