Remaking Claude Fournier’s 1970 film of the same name, Chloé Robichaud’s Two Women is a modern attempt at rehashing a dated trope. It features unsatisfied women moving aimlessly around their homes, seeking a solution to their loveless marriages.
Robichaud, working off Catherine Léger’s screenplay, is unable to deliver a fresh enough solution to this simple problem. Unfortunately, for Robichaud and Léger’s film, the source material makes its presence felt in a way that overpowers any novel ideas.
The Plot
| Character | Actor | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Violette | Laurence Leboeuf | Young mother struggling with post-partum routine; husband always away |
| Florence | Karine Gonthier-Hyndman | Neighbor looking to free herself from anti-depressants; longtime boyfriend |
Violette (Laurence Leboeuf), a young mother to an infant, finds herself struggling alone through the monotonous, tiring post-partum routine. With her salesman husband Benoit (Félix Moati) always away at conventions, Violette turns to her neighbor next door—Florence (Karine Gonthier-Hyndman).
Living along with her longtime boyfriend David (Mani Soleymanlou) and their 10-year-old son, Florence is quick to warm up to Violette as the two women bond over the constraints that monogamy, disinterested husbands, and needy children have put on their personal pleasure.
What Doesn’t Work
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Dated Tropes | The premise is built on outdated ideas about unsatisfied women |
| Unoriginal | The source material overpowers any novel ideas |
| Lack of Fresh Perspective | Fails to deliver a fresh solution to the problem |
Robichaud is unable to deliver a fresh enough solution to this simple problem. The film finds itself stuck in the middle of a potentially funny movie, and one that inspired its premise from an outdated trope.
The Verdict
Two Women attempts to modernize a 1970s premise but gets bogged down by its dated origins. While the performances may be competent, the film fails to offer a fresh perspective on the challenges of unsatisfied women in domestic settings.
