Une Affaire de Femmes (Story of Women) (1988)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(1,075 ratings)

The women in this story are the customers of amateur abortionist Isabelle Huppert. The time is 1941, and the place is a Nazi-occupied French town. Struggling to survive, Huppert turns to illegally terminating unwanted pregnancies for a hefty fee. As her income increases, Huppert moves her family… More The women in this story are the customers of amateur abortionist Isabelle Huppert. The time is 1941, and the place is a Nazi-occupied French town. Struggling to survive, Huppert turns to illegally terminating unwanted pregnancies for a hefty fee. As her income increases, Huppert moves her family from their grimy surroundings to a posh apartment, sharing her digs with her new friend, prostitute Marie Trintignant. Completely seduced by her affluent lifestyle, Huppert ignores her shell-shocked husband Francois Cluzet, preferring to dally with Nazi collaborator Nils Tavernier. Things take a disastrous turn after one of Huppert's "customers" dies and her disgruntled husband turns her over to the authorities. Story of Women was inspired by the real-life tale of Marie-Louise Girard, who in 1943 was executed by the Vichy Government, who'd declared abortion as a Crime Against the State because it diminished the number of potential soldiers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Claude Chabrol
Written By: Colo Tavernier O'Hagan, Claude Chabrol
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Jul 27, 2004
Studio: Home Vision Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Huppert's performance is riveting under Chabrol's keen direction.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
It's an interesting look at a tiny aspect of the French condition in WWII, but I had hoped for a more sweeping and insightful film from one of cinema's masters.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An artfully done and disturbing film that raises questions about controversial social issues.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The gripping story of a true survivor.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Emily B

I admire Isabelle Huppert more and more as an actress with each film I see her in. Here she plays Marie Latour, one of the last women guillotined in France, for having performed illegal abortions. The subject is obviously a delicate one. Chabrol doesn't take sides though. The… More
I admire Isabelle Huppert more and more as an actress with each film I see her in. Here she plays Marie Latour, one of the last women guillotined in France, for having performed illegal abortions. The subject is obviously a delicate one. Chabrol doesn't take sides though. The dark side of this woman is evident, she shows little or no concern for her clients and seemingly is only doing it to get as much money as possible out of it. But there is also a innocence to her, to do anything she can to provide the best for her children. Would make a great (though admittingly bleak) double feature with Vera Drake.