For a Woman
2013 [FRENCH]
Action / Drama / Romance
90%
TOMATOMETER
· 10 reviews
59%
AUDIENCE
· 250 ratings
6.6/10
934
Plot summary
After the death of her mother, Anne makes a shocking discovery: an old photograph casts doubt on her origins and leads her to discover a mysterious uncle who lived with her parents after the war. As she lifts the lid on a long forgotten family secret, the young woman learns that her mother once succumbed to an amorous passion that was as intense as it was short-lived...
Director
Top cast
Movie Reviews
The French and Communism.
A Nice Romance
In the 80's, the sisters Anne (Sylvie Testud) and Tania (Julie Ferrier) are looking at the belongings of their deceased mother in a box and find a ring and the photo of her uncle Jean wearing the ring with their mother and Tania inside. Anne is a filmmaker and decides to research the story behind the ring. After the World War II, the Soviet Jewish Michel (Benoît Magimel) and Léna (Mélanie Thierry), who met each other at the Riversaltes Camp and married each other in a loveless wedding to leave the camp, apply for French citizenship since Michel was raised in France and joined the French Foreign Legion in the past. They move to Lyon, where Léna delivers their daughter Tania and Michel joins the Communist Party. When they receive their Frech citizenship, Michel opens a tailor's workshop and befriends Maurice (Denis Podalydès), who is the leader of the party, and his unfaithful wife Madeleine (Clotilde Hesme), who cheats him with the young member of the party Paul (Marc Ruchmann). Out of the blue, his missing brother Jean (Nicolas Duvauchelle), who was considered dead, appears at Michel's home. He welcomes Jean but tells Léna that he is not sure whether the man is Jean since he does not see him since they were boys. Michel hires Jean to work at the workshop and lodges him at home, and Jean helps him to be well-succeeded in business with new ideas, and soon he buys a car and a refrigerator. When Jean's friend Sacha (Clément Sibony) appears at the tailor's workshop, Michel hires and lodges him too. However, they do not give explanation how they reach France and Michel suspects of them. But soon Léna feels attracted by Jean that does not wish to betray his brother.
"Pour une femme", a.k.a. "For a Woman" (2013) is a nice French romance by Diane Kurys slightly based on her story. The plot is well developed in three periods: after the war; in the 80's; and in 1998. The performances are top-notch and it is not clear whether Anne is Jean's or Michel's daughter. The long and complex story is disclosed in the right pace and is never boring. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Por Uma Mulher" ("For a Woman")