For me, it would have to be Augustine as played by Isabelle Huppert.
We see her initially as an extremely immature, selfish, ungracious, grating, and an obnoxious woman. However, as the film progresses, her human qualities, hidden layers (not that the other women don't have their layers), extra dimensions, yearnings, and interests are slowly revealed. She is revealed to be more of a flawed character who feels misunderstood, tortured, and humiliated. Her rigid, cold, tough, and no-nonsense exterior is merely a facade to shield her weaknesses and insecurities. She just wants to be loved but just doesn't know how to properly conduct and express herself to deserve it. Deep down, she cares and loves her family very much; she just doesn't know how to show it.
Her true and more sympathetic character is revealed in several scenes. For example, she has separate serious and heartfelt talk with her sister and mother where she pours out her tears, pains, and regrets. She even realizes and feels grateful for her sister's support and love for her. There are also moments when she engages in sad monologues and wistful introspection. She even asks a character for advice on relationships and how to improve her looks. Later on, she does just that: she undergoes a radical change by revamping her appearance and demeanor. As a result, she looks sunnier and happier. Her demeanor seems to have evolved to become more mature, civilized, approachable, and controlled.
Isabelle Huppert's acting is quite superb. She's probably the fastest talker and the most animated of the bunch. She's over the top (but not unreasonably so) and is clearly having fun with the role, but the character is not as simple to interpret and easy to present at first glance. There are little nuances, actions, and expressions that she gets just right.
"...sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.” ~ Cool Hand Luke
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feodoric
10 years ago
Fanny Ardant is the most sensual and erotic, which is one of the various definitions for "best femme". On the other hand, I'd take Emmanuelle Béart's hands any day, as she has the best "lay woman" (:)) value of all... Now, Isabelle Huppert is to me this hot woman who goes for it the first night whom we viewers of French cinema learnt to know over the years since she started being the ideal sexually active modern woman, less inaccessible than the really big stars (Deneuve, Adjani) and yet pretty impressive as a MILFish French cougar... Virginie Ledoyen and Ludivine Sagnier are two younger nymphs with major sex appeal who would be even easier to talk to at a cocktail party. Your pick will give mine as they are both very attractive thank you (with Sagnier having a sexual edge over Virginie, but this is just me). As for Firmine, I find her intimidating albeit trustworthy, which is another kind of "good". Finally, the two true French queens, Danielle Darrieux as the noble and still beautiful dowager princess of classic French cinema, and Catherine Deneuve, the almost intact beauty of beauties, the most beautiful actress in the world period, all countries confounded.
See, it's hard, or next to impossible for me to name a "best femme". This is a true ensemble and any single pick would be unfair to the others.
But if you press me hard for a choice, Fanny will always be Fanny :-)
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lazarillo
10 years ago
Yeah, I agree. It is impossible pick a best. Fanny Arnadt is always memorable and so is Emmanuelle Beart (although this is not her strongest film). Huppert is also really something. I'm not sure if Ludivine Sagnier is hotter than Virginie Ledoyen, but I would have been willing to watch the two go toe-to-to in some hot, incestuous lesbian action in an attempt to pick a favorite. . .
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