The Midwife
(Sage Femme)(2017)
Catherine Frot (The Page Turner) is a midwife who gets unexpected news from her father's old mistress (Catherine Deneuve, Dancer in the Dark) in this Martin Provost-directed drama.... More
"Claire (Frot) is a single mother with a grown-up son. She’s a dedicated midwife who is completely wrapped up in her job. Although the maternity ward where she works is to be closed, she turns down a job offer from a larger clinic because she cannot reconcile their methods with her own ideas about midwifery. In the midst of all this upheaval she receives a phone call that rekindles memories of her youth. Béatrice (Deneuve), her late father’s former mistress, asks to meet her. Béatrice is a true bohemian – loud, colourful, egocentric and completely different to the focussed, helpful Claire. The younger woman asks herself why, after all these years of silence, Béatrice has suddenly decided to approach her for help, and is at first less than enthusiastic." (Berlin International Film Festival)Hide
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Directed by Martin Provost ('Séraphine', 'Violette', 'The Long Falling')
Starring Catherine Frot, Catherine Deneuve, Olivier Gourmet, Quentin Dolmaire, Mylène Demongeot, Pauline Etienne, Pauline Parigot, Marie Gili-Pierre
Written by Martin Provost
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 3 providers
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The Midwife
The Press Reviews
Provost has once again proven to be a sensitive and sure-handed director of what used to be called "women's films," with this one somewhat of a cross between Douglas Sirk and the Dardennes. Full Review
A bittersweet delight written to order for two consummate performers who inhabit their diametrically opposed characters with satisfying élan. Full Review
Tame, competent, mildly touching, and a little dull - except for Catherine Deneuve's fearless turn as a boozing, ailing wreck. Full Review
...the focus is rightly on the two leads and fans of theirs won't want to miss the chance to see them one more time. Full Review
Even when portraying the needy, nearly shambolic Béatrice in "The Midwife," Ms. Deneuve is capable of vibrating with an elegance that implies both hauteur and froideur. Full Review
"The Midwife" is an absorbing meander of a movie, prettily shot and a touch over-scored ... Full Review
Passes the Bechdel Test with flying colours. Full Review
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