8 Women
Directed by François Ozon
- comedy
- thriller
- mystery
The story
Eight women gather to celebrate Christmas in a snowbound cottage, only to find the family patriarch dead with a knife in his back. Trapped in the house, every woman becomes a suspect, each having her own motive and secret.
What it’s like
Saturated Technicolor in jewel tones: lacquered reds, mint and rose wallpaper, bottle-green velvet, and snow glowing blue against the windows of a stately country house. The camera moves on tracking shots through corridors and dressing rooms, and the frame is busy with costume and decor, so the set reads like a stage. Mid-film, the story stops for brief, deliberately stagey songs that have the cast sing their secrets to the camera. The mood is playful, camp and theatrical, with a sly, knowing wit, and the score leans on bright, nostalgic pop pastiche. The killing is sudden and cool, and any bloodshed is minimal and stylised, not gory. The cruelty is mostly verbal, with sharp barbs, jealousy and sexual innuendo, but nothing lingers on harm. Pacing is brisk and bouncy, with a steady drip of reveals and reversals. It suits a snowy weekend, a comfort watch with friends, or anyone who wants a glossy, witty mystery that doesn't take itself seriously. It is for viewers who enjoy old-Hollywood artifice, ensemble performances and a playful puzzle.
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