TWO WOMEN (2026)

April 23, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. Relationships require communication, diligence, and a bit of luck. Director Chloe Robichaud (SARAH PREFERS TO RUN, 2016) is working from a script from playwright Catherine Leger to deliver a remake of the 1970 French sex comedy, DEUX FEMMES EN OR from Claude Fournier. Finding humor in strained or crumbling relationships is never easy – especially when medication or a newborn is involved.

Florence (Karine Gonthier-Hyndman) and Violette (Laurence Leboeuf) are neighbors in the same condominium complex in Montreal. Robichaud first shoots them from a distance – staring out their respective windows (separated only by the shared wall of their flats) at a world from which they each feel detached. Florence is not working and is on anti-depressants, while Violette has a new baby and feels a bit trapped and limited. One morning Violette invites Florence for a coffee, but mostly to confront her about the “crow” sounds seeping through that shared wall. Florence assures her that she and her partner David (Mani Soleymanlou) haven’t had sex in years. This confession finds common ground with the women as Violette’s husband Benoit (Felix Moati) is too-often on business trips that end up with a shared hotel room with Eli (Juliette Gariepy).

This sets off sex romps for both ladies. Florence stops taking her meds and Violette finds a daycare for her kid. Service providers reap the benefits as the two women re-awaken their sexual appetites. The cable guy, plumber, pest control provider, delivery guy, and window cleaner all expand their services so that the women can bust out of their respective ruts. In between these escapades, some awkward condo association meetings are held over minutiae – acting as a bit of contrast to the bouts of pleasure the women experience during the days.

Of course, there are no free lunches, and relationships tend to suffer when commitments falter. Although, humor is written in to the excellent escript, it’s really never funny to watch couples destroy their bond. There really is no way to “have it all.” One interesting note is that at least two actors, Louise Turcot and Donald Pilon appear in this film as well as the 1970 original. The final shot is a good one, and it’s quite likely the unconventional ending won’t please all viewers.

Opening in NYC on April 24, 2026 and additional theaters in May.

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

RESISTANCE (2020)

March 26, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Learning of the courageous people who found their own way to battle the Nazis during World War II never gets old. Sometimes brain power and courage are more important than gun power. Such is the case in this latest from writer-director Jonathan Jakubowicz, who brings a fascinating story from within the French Resistance to the big screen. This is a group that rescued 10,000 orphaned kids, and this is a story of one special man from within that group.

Jesse Eisenberg (and an iffy French accent) plays Marcel, the son of a multi-generational Jewish butcher in Strasbourg France. Out of familial duty, Marcel works at the butcher shop with his father, but his passion is in performing arts. One evening his dad (Karl Markovics) ‘catches’ him performing a silent Charlie Chaplin act on stage at a local cabaret. A parental lecture follows. Marcel’s penchant for entertaining does come in handy when he helps his brother Alain (Felix Moati) and cousin Georges (Geza Rohrig, SON OF SAUL) rescue 123 orphans.

The opening sequence in the film finds young Elsbeth (Bella Ramsey, Lorna Luft in JUDY) witnessing her Jewish parents being murdered in the street outside their Munich home by Nazis in 1938. We next see her in the group of 123 orphans noted above. As a kind of framing device, we flash forward to 1945 in Nuremberg, as General George S Patton (Ed Harris) is addressing the troops and telling the story of a remarkable man. That man is Marcel, and the film then takes us through his journey and we “see” the story that General Patton is “telling.”

When Marcel and his brother agree to join the French Jewish Resistance (also known as Organization Juive de Combat, OJC), they face more danger, and maintain their focus on rescuing orphans. Helping in the cause is Emma (Clemence Poesy, IN BRUGES), and a mutual respect and attraction forms between she and Marcel. The brutality of the war is shown through the actions of Klaus Barbie (Matthias Schweighofer). As the head of the Gestapo in France (and known as The Butcher of Lyon), Barbie works out of the Hotel Terminus, and his sadistic tendencies find their way into the Resistance.

Once the war escalates to a certain point, the Resistance must decide whether it’s best to continue hiding the kids, or risk the perilous journey across the Alps in hopes of freedom. In reality, it’s not much of a decision, as staying put likely means torture, if not death. There are some touching moments between Marcel and the kids, and some acts of pure bravery from all involved.

At times, the film teeters into LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL territory, but never for long. The moments of pure terror are well presented, yet never overly graphic. We feel the stress of the Resistance as they struggle to get the kids to safety, and feel their pain in tragic losses. As the film ends, General Patton finishes his story by introducing his story’s Marcel. The spotlight then lands on Marcel Marceau in full make-up and costume. Marceau, of course, went on to become famous and beloved around the world as the most famous mime. Filmmaker Jakubowicz has delivered yet another fascinating story of heroism and courage … another story that deserves to be remembered.

watch the trailer:

2 Comments | Drama, War | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson