Combats de femme (TV Series) Un amour de femme (2001) User Reviews

A Love Story and the Conflicts of Sexuality

[gradyharp · 8/10 · 7 March 2006]

AMOUR DE FEMME is a well-produced film that deals with the trials and agonies facing women who come out as lesbians. It is quiet, subtle, beautifully photographed, and is fortunate to have a fine, handsome cast directed with sensitivity by Sylvie Verheyde who also wrote the simple but elegant screenplay.Made in 2001 AMOUR DE FEMME came to the screen before the popular US television series THE L WORD, a program that has provided a healthier look at same sex relationships between women, and though there have been successful mainstream lesbian films, this particular one avoids some of the pitfalls that have prevented wide public acceptance of the others. The writer/director does not surround her two main characters with the usual bar scenes and peripheral characters that can distract from the story of a sexual discovery, but instead keeps the story tight with a small cast each of whom makes an impact on the story.

Jeanne (Hélène Fillières) is a successful osteopath/wife/mother who happens to reluctantly accompany her handsome husband David (Anthony Delon) to a birthday party for his best friend Franck (Jeannick Gravelines) and there she encounters Marie (Raffaëla Anderson), a dancer, and a chemistry develops resulting in an evening Jeanne enjoys very much. Slowly Jeanne and Marie begin meeting very openly, Jeanne is honest with David about her comings and goings, but when the two women's relationship becomes physical, Jeanne is faced with decisions about her sexuality. David confronts Jeanne about Marie, Jeanne confides her shaky mental and physical state, and when David eventually confronts Jeanne in a telling way, Jeanne understands her true self and despite her deep love for her small child, realizes she must follow her heart.

The cinematography both in Paris and in Normandy, where Jeanne and Marie with Marie's younger brother Moïse (Thierno Sy) have spent refreshing moments together, is stunning. Both of the actresses are not only beautiful but also talented and yield a credible attraction and passion. The entire cast is superb. The one distracting element in the film is the sound track: there is a rumbling pedal point noise that accompanies almost every scene between Jeanne and Marie and is annoyingly distracting. In French with English subtitles. The DVD is very fine in execution, but there are not extras except for some video trailers. A comment from the talented writer/director would have enhanced the release. Recommended. Grady Harp, March 06

A love story

[=G= · 7/10 · 20 December 2004]

"Amour de Femme" is a French TV flick which tells of a married woman (Fillières) osteopath with a young son who falls in love with am unmarried female dance instructor (Anderson). The film flows with the same natural grace and delicacy we've all seen in heterosexual romantic films bringing love to life from the initial encounter to the tender beginnings to the ultimate realization and beyond. Though the film deals with the married woman's inner turmoil and spousal conflicts, those tempestuous elements are minimalized with the body of the film dedicated to creating a palpable love with only brief sex and nudity. The fact that both women are extraordinarily beautiful makes this film an idealized rendering of lesbian love which is a pleasure to watch. Should be an enjoyable film for same sex couples with some appeal for the general public interested in the premise. (B)

"I only smoke when I'm happy..."

[Ketchup622 · 8/10 · 26 January 2006]

I am in love with this film. I especially love the soundtrack. Instead of a cheesy love song when the main characters finally sleep together, you hear the sound of wind chimes. Interesting.

It's a genuine, feel-good movie. One of the few gay/lesbian love stories I have seen that conclude with a happy ending. It was refreshing. I love the personalities of the main characters and the obvious chemistry the two share.

My favorite part of the entire film took place in the hotel bathroom. Jeanne was smoking a cigarette near the window and Marie walks in. She takes the cigarette out of Jeanne's hand and Jeanne says that she smokes a lot for a dancer. Marie smiles and says... "Not that much really... I have a rule... I only smoke... when... I'm... happy." Her facial expressions are unforgettable.

Good movie.

[ljr-x25 · 19 March 2008]

I've finally gotten around to this seeing this and it was worth the wait. I really liked it, at times the production value is low and you can tell it was originally a made for TV movie, but it still manages to have you engrossed in the forbidden love story.

Jeanne is a married mother who is disatisfied with her life, then she meets Marie a free spirited dance teacher at a party, their immediately drawn to each other. Jeanne uses Marie's dance classes as a reason to see more of Marie and soon their unable to deny their feeling and begin an affair. The husband slowly realises what is happening and angst ensues, until Jeanne is finally able to be honest about who she is and where she belongs.

The actresses convey their attraction really well with just looks and body language, in fact at times there isn't a lot of dialogue and it's all left to facial features to tell the story. My only complaints are the music which doesn't add anything and the fact some scenes that could have been edited out or reduced slow the pace of the movie. If your looking for a sensitive 'lesbian' movie that isn't overly sensational this is one i'd recommend.

"I always order what I don't want"

[aaronas · 7/10 · 16 January 2005]

This is a quiet lesbian romance. A French mother/wife adventures into a world of self-expression, dancing, and lesbianism. The lead is pervaded by a thorough mistrust of her choices and feelings. She is aided in her internal conflict by her friends and husband who attack her with guilt. Will she do the right thing and follow her heart? Or will she succumb to patriarchal, close-minded society?

Also a racial sub-theme as the lead's lover is half black.

I enjoyed this film, but it makes for a quiet night. You never get the sense that the two women could be truly happy, only that they're a little less miserable together.

Great Movie!

[lelanisanoi · 9/10 · 20 May 2005]

I actually watched the film this morning. I could hardly wait for Netflix to send it. I was a bit skeptical because I've seen a lot of lesbian films that really didn't cut the mustard. This film was a beautifully made lesbian film that rivaled most heterosexual romantic films I've seen. The one reason I got the film was due to the fact that Rafaela Anderson was in it. I had seen her in Baise Moi and think that she's an awesome actress as well as attractive. I'm not a lesbian but I'm very open sexually and thought the sex scenes were done very nicely, and not overly done like most films. There was a subtle awakening of love between these two characters, which put you right in the picture. You could actually see the love unfolding right before your eyes which is beautiful to me. There was never a butch, femme type of scenario in this film either, which happens in most lesbian erotica films. The fact that this woman was married and had a son was even more alluring. This movie showed two attractive women, who fell in love and make a choice at the end that will leave audiences guessing or wanting more. You watch and decide. The best lesbian love story I have ever seen.

European take on a love story between two women

[michellelocke007 · 7/10 · 9 September 2010]

bought this movie after seeing the intriguing cover shot and was quite pleased with the outcome after viewing it. story of two very different women from social classes who have a chance encounter at a friend's birthday party. Rafaela Anderson who plays the dancer/instructor is immediately drawn to the quiet and rather introverted character played by Helene fillieres. Helene starts taking dance lessons at Rafaela's studio and the two start spending time together which soon reveals a strong physical attraction. Helene is married and has a young son which complicates the situation but despite this she continues seeing Rafaela and before one knows it the two embark on an affair. what is striking to me is the androgynous look and appeal of Helene's character who looks completely different in every angle shot or close-up. she is just stunning to gaze upon. the love scenes aren't overly explicit though i did find the sound of the wind chimes in the background a bit annoying during the scenes. there was good chemistry between the two leads which is vital to a love story and the emotions that Rafaela conveys when Helene suggests they spend time apart. difficult choices are made but the characters stay true to themselves and their heart.

Morose de Femme

[NoDakTatum · 4/10 · 8 December 2023]

Sylvie Verheyde directs this French film that deals with a lesbian relationship with predictable characters and results. Jeanne (Helene Fillieres) is a bored masseuse married to David (Anthony Delon). At a birthday party for David's best friend Franck (Jeannick Gravelines), Jeanne is instantly attracted to Franck's flighty cousin Marie (Raffaela Anderson). Marie is a dancer, and Jeanne decides to take up the physical activity in Marie's class after ten years off to marry and raise a child. Marie and Jeanne begin a careful friendship, aware of their mutual attraction and eventual ramifications. The couple finally do find themselves together, and David and Franck both react the way you know they will.

The cast of "Amour de Femme" is very good, despite the material. Fillieres is a tall classic beauty, and she often tries to overcome the terminal gloominess her character is suffering from. Anderson is also good, although the script's idea of "free spiritedness" is my idea of "kinda weird." Delon's David is all angst and fury, and Gravelines is not in enough scenes as Franck to register much. The "uninhibited free spirit pulls a straight arrow-type out of their cocoon, and shows them life as they have never seen it" plot has been done to death, and the addition of the lesbian romance is not unique enough to set the film apart from others of its ilk. Verheyde directs the film well enough, but by the time David commits an act to get back at Jeanne, I felt as much despair as the characters. This is a morose film, with little happiness, especially lacking the happiness of a new love. While the viewer might cheer for Marie and Jeanne, the two characters are so down about their situation, you might think Jeanne is better off with David, who comes off as a pretty good guy. David does not force his wife into the arms of another woman despite the old streaming service plot summary, but his overreaction to their relationship should have been a sharp, insulting, black-comedic dig at Jeanne, not more angst. "Amour de Femme" is an innocuous romance which might have benefited from a little levity.

'The greatest lesbian story in a movie!?'

[lepoutanol_gr · 10/10 · 11 November 2020]

2020?Yeah i discovered and wathced instantly this epic film this f* year.Some days ago i wathced this great movie called 'Un amour de femme'.A well-produced french film excellent direction and casting.Great photography also.Enough for this stuff.Let me ay some things abot the movie itselft.Jeanne,a wife/mother who accompany her husband David to a birthday party for his best friend Franck,she meets Marie a dancer and an instant attraction happens.Jeanne and Marie begin meeting.An affair starts and Jeanne must choose.The movie is showing two beautiful women, who fell in love and must make a choice at the end,do this together or fool their hearts.The best lesbian love story I have ever seen like lelanisanoi said in the first review.I agree 100% mate.Greetings!

there is something deeply fascinating...

[belank-44068 · 10/10 · 23 June 2023]

...and intriguing about this movie as I turned to it again and again and couldn't stop thinking about it. This is like a quiet romance that developed quietly at first but soon turned into something more passionate when the two women started making love for the first time. It is as if Jeanne waited for a change in her life all the time and the change came when Marie appeared the first time at the party in the first scene, Marie obviously came in with a bang...

The story is told in a very sensitive manner and the two characters are intriguing. The love is developing slowly at first but already very visible in around the middle, when they are out dancing together Jeanne is already totally in love with Marie. Fascinating story but I disliked the fact that Jeanne left her son and obviously never cared about him again. That's not something a good mother or person really would do. Apart of this this is a great movie with astonishing first class actresses and actors.