MovieChat Forums > Les femmes du 6e étage (2011) Discussion > Mawkish throwback film... terrible.

Mawkish throwback film... terrible.

posted 12 years ago by maritze
8 replies | jump to latest

This is the type of film the new wave guys of French cinema rebelled against in the 60’s. And here, as if risen from the grave is this odd throwback to that earlier era of films. The ‘noble poor’ philosophy of this movie is so disingenuous and mawkish I virtually had to gnaw off a leg to get through it. On top of that the whole motivation of the rich guy character’s actions seems to be that he wants to get in his maids pants. How noble is that?

Terrible film with a terribly trite and puerile philosophy behind it.

[–] intexor 12 years ago

It's a very good comedy that establishes a lot of interesting themes. He does want to get in her pants but he's also intrigued by the motivation these guest workers have to go through so much to have a better life, and why although suffering they still have more "joi de vivre" than his family has. My girlfriend is from North-Africa and we've commented before on the differences between people from the north of Europe like myself and Mediterranean countries. In the end it's a comedy though, and the change that the main character goes through is close to becoming cartoonish. The themes are also very "in your face" because it's not meant to be some kind of snobby arthouse crap that only 5 people in the world will actually watch or understand.

In fact, I bet you are probably such a snobby arthouse lover. I hate European cinema for pretending movies have to be arty and preferably also period drama shot in a way that it almost makes impossible to look at without vomiting.

[–] maritze 12 years ago

You can bet all you like, and you'd be wrong. My comment stands.

[–] Superunknovvn 12 years ago

Intellectually, I agree with maritze. The movie was a throwback. The only reason the main character cared about the Spanish maids was that he wanted to f1.k one of them. The poor have to be thankful for a rich person doing them even the smallest favor, women are dependant on men - it probably was that way back then (more so than today, I mean), but the movie presented all that as some kind of natural order and it was almost reactionary in that way, even if the general message was that "everyone can change" or something along those lines. Not to mention the stereotypical depiction of Spanish people (life affirming! singing! dancing! modest!).

On the other hand, I kind of enjoyed the movie as a light hearted comedy. I don't believe it wanted to be political in any way, even though it was in its subtext. I think the key to liking this is to watch it the same way you'd watch a decent Hollywood blockbuster: turn off your brain and enjoy the ride.

"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school"

[–] filmfancy 12 years ago

I think the key to liking this is to watch it the same way you'd watch a decent Hollywood blockbuster: turn off your brain and enjoy the ride.

Turn off your brain indeed! The depiction alone of the Spanish maids as happily cleaning their employers' homes and being one large jolly family was insulting.

Also incredulous was that Maria would fall for a bourgeois man like Jean-Louis.

And when one of the younger maids announced that she was getting married and wouldn't have to work anymore, but then she listed all the chores she'd still be doing for her husband! How come the Communist maid didn't renounce the marriage then--guess she hadn't heard of feminism!

I like Fabrice Luchini, but I thought this film was a waste of his talents.

For a much better film about (Spanish) maids, try The Maid (Chile). It's definitely not an unrealistic feel-good film (like this one) about class consciousness.

"And all the pieces matter"

[–] chicago85 12 years ago

The movie was set in the 1960's when France and Spain were still run by DeGaulle and Franco. Tmes have changed in both countries.

I might add that the French new wave was interesting but some of it was slop and pretentious. You have to scrounge to find French movies with a combination of intellectual stimulation AND some action.

I used to hate French movies where some pompous guy would pontificate some political crap to a blonde in a mini skirt who would hang on every word. Those monologues would run for ages. It was like watching paint dry.

Did the guy want to "get in her pants"? Yeah, but not from the get go. I think he was intrigued by a group of people who didn't lead the sterile existance that he did.

[–] jmlewis46 12 years ago

"How come the Communist maid didn't renounce the marriage then--guess she hadn't heard of feminism!" N, she hadn't--the movie was set in 1962, so she probably hadn't read Simone de Beauvoir, and couldn't read "The Feminine Mystique" because it hadn't been written yet. And who said the maids were "happily" cleaning their employers' homes? Were there scenes I missed of maids whistling while they worked?

And what's so "insulting" about the maids living together in crowded conditions and enjoying each other's company? You've apparently digested goo many Marxist tracts about how the proletariat are so downtrodden that they have no room or capacity for joy in their off-duty lives.

The bride-to-be's recitation of the wonderful things she'd be doing as a wife was intended as ironic. In many critical respects she'd be doing the exact same things she was doing as a maid, but without getting paid. (Sometimes we have to spell things out for the overly-literal-minded.)

And what was so incredible (you were incredulous; the situation was incredible for you) about the attraction Maria felt for Jean-Louis? Were you offended that class-consciousness didn't trump all? Or did you feel he wasn't hunky enough for her?

[–] BB-15 10 years ago

I saw this on Netflix tonight and I agree jmlewis46.
There were many negative references to the employers of the maids, some subtle, and others very blunt.
Living with a plugged toilet, And working 7 days a week.
As for the maids often smiling and being happy, many people in life try to make the best of things even when their situation is poor.

Is the style of the film an homage to older films? Sure, a little life of the bourgeoise, a little Neo realism, and some silly romance.
It's called entertainment.

As for Jean-Louis, of course a big part of his motivation to help the maids is because he likes Maria.
But added to that, he found Spanish life an escape from his boring life.
And there has been a fascination with Spanish culture by many people in France for a long time.
Think of Bizet's Carmen or musical works by Ravel that have Spanish themes.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo -

[–] Cine-Verite 10 years ago

Maritze,
Didn't you know that the device you used to watch this film has an off-button? If you saw it in a theater, you could have easily walked out - or limped if you gnawed off half your leg, virtually or otherwise.

Some movies are released; others sneak out.