MovieChat Forums > Les femmes de l'ombre (2008) Discussion > This should have a higher rating than 6....

This should have a higher rating than 6.7

posted 13 years ago by PoppyTransfusion
9 replies | jump to latest

It's a great film based on true events, which makes it an emotional ride. The characters of Louise and Jeanne were fantastic and so well rendered by the actresses - in fact I cannot fault the cast.

Two lines that stick with me, both Louise's:

"God doesn't care what goes on down here"
&
"You'd have never done this to men".

I suspect if the agents had been male this film would have more attention and a better rating.

rouge silk,
fierce concentrated joy,
fires the blood

[–] magnoliaspringsal 11 years ago

I am currently on a Sophie Marceau kick. I remember her being stunning in her Braveheart costumes and recently enjoyed "Happiness Never Comes Alone", so I thought I'd continue on.

You make a valid point about the rating of this movie. I think there are two different reasons.

While there have been wars since time began, I wonder if the activity that makes the movie - group mission behind enemy lines with 'underground' assistance - is somewhat unique to WWII. Sure, there are espionage films about every conflict and there is "Black Hawk Down", but are there many that are somewhat ordinary citizens, all-for-one and one-for-all, depending upon a Central Command and resistance fighters?

In a way, it makes it less comfortable to watch because soldiers or spies put themselves in harm's way as it is their profession. The characters in 'Female Agents' are ones we can easily put ourselves in their places, relating a little and squirming a lot.

It makes for a great movie but when it comes to rating it on an enjoyment level, do you rate it a "10" when your stomach is still in a knot?

The other factor is Nationality. For the vast majority of the 'raters', this is a war movie. For a Brit, or even an ex-pat, it's personal. Like a ham and egg breakfast, the chicken was involved, the pig was committed.

Sixty-five years later, I still can't ask my mother if such-and-such a raid, a landing or Dunkirk was, in hindsight, an error in judgement. She had, and by extension both your family and my family had, friends and relatives who died in those places. Are we able to rate this movie as non-noncommittally as a non-Brit?

Onward to some much lighter fare for me, watching "De l'autre Cote du Lit" and "LOL(Laughing Out Loud)". Lots of fluff and not a saboteur in sight!

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

I can't answer if any war pre-WW2 utilised ordinary citizens for resistance to the same extent although I would have thought any occupation by an outisde force would establish internal resistance. I agree that watching ordinary women, and men, place themselves in danger is discomfiting in a way that watching soldiers or spies is not. The torture scenes were well done in the film in that they were believeable and horrible. Also these characters and the events of the film are based in fact.

Are we able to rate this movie as non-noncommittally as a non-Brit?

But the film events would have affected many nations in Europe, not just UK or France, because such resistance was occurring in many countries. Nazism is an emotive topic so even outside of Europe viewers would be affected.

In rating a film I try to think outside my feelings and immediate judgements and consider the script acting, character development, plausibility (which is not the same as realistic) etc. So leaving aside emotive issues this film is better than a 6.7, as it was when I wrote my post. If the events of the film are harrowing and one is left with a knot in one's stomach then that makes for a good film IMO.

Not heard of the two films you've named but enjoy your fluff!! :)

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot

[–] mackay254 10 years ago

It's about women.
It's in a 'foreign' language. (Mostly French)

6.7 is good, considering.

I thought it was great. I gave it an 8.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

t's about women.
It's in a 'foreign' language. (Mostly French)

I know ... but this demonstrates another deficit to a rating system. Especially on the IMDb.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I gave it an 8 too.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.

[–] benman46 9 years ago

I've always been puzzled why people on Imdb complain about the ratings. If somebody likes a film they will give it a high rating, if not a low rating. It's as simple as that. It's all down to personal choice. Then there are the trolls who will give a film a ridiculous rating. Just because I like a film and give it a high rating, which I did in this case, other people who didn't like it will vote differently. Which is fine by me, each to their own. The ratings are meaningless anyway. I doubt very much if a male cast would have made any difference. There have been more films of this type with a female cast than male over the years.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

And I never understand why posters reply missing the point of the post to which they were replying. A dialogue that went: 'Why have you rated this film low?' 'Because I didn't like it that much' is far from interesting. I ventured an opinion as to what influences liking. I'm not interested in a debate about 'I rate it this way because that reflects how much I like (or dislike) it'.

here have been more films of this type with a female cast than male over the years.

Name them.

A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

[–] girl7th 9 years ago

I'm Asian ( Taiwanese ), so please don't picky my poor English,
I'd love to see some WWII films these days, " Zwartboek ", " The Debt ",
" Atonement " and this one, I rate all these films an 8.
Personally I enjoy " Zwartboek " most, fast paced also very entertaining,
( sorry to say that, it's wartime. ), basically a love story of Ellis & Muntze.
Before I play this " Female Agents " DVD, I presume it's a story about 5 women, though each one has her own plan, quarrel and fight all the time, when sisterhood growing stronger, stick together
for the higher purpose they'll succeed anyway, I was so wrong.
All these torment scenes are hard to take, especially beat up women,
it's hard to blame Gaelle as a traitor when those horrible misadventures fell on her, I suppose Louise lost her baby during that, when Suzy got shot by her relentless ex husband, it seems all hopes are gone, with lots of twists and turns reaches final countdown, with very brave sacrifice of Jeanne make sure Louise fulfill her mission also secure the D-Day project, based on true events, very convincing and realistic ( compare with above films I've mention about. )
I couldn't help heart wrenching for Louise and Jeanne, salute to all these anonymous heroines during wartime.
" Zwartboek " is easy to follow, " Female Agents " it brought tears to my eyes.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

@girl7th

Hello. I don't pick on people who are writing in a language not their own :) Thanks for your post and sharing how the film affected you. There are lots of anonymous heroes and heroines during war time but it's good to hear about the latter.

All these torment scenes are hard to take, especially beat up women

Yes, especially as the film's events were based in truth.

it's hard to blame Gaelle as a traitor

Agreed. I found the way the film showed her response to torture to be very convincing.

I suppose Louise lost her baby during that

That was my take too.

A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

[–] chrissso 8 years ago

I like this film a lot (7.5). It was compelling and entertaining and very well produced. More so Sophie Marceau (Louise) is smokin hot when she fires a gun! But the film suffers from being a little to "fantastic" and actually flirts with being unbelievable. I think that is why the film has the 6.7 IMDB rating.