8½ Women
Encyclopedia
8½ Women is a 1999 comedy-drama film
written and directed by Peter Greenaway
, and starring John Standing
, Matthew Delamere, and Vivian Wu
. The international co-production
(the United Kingdom
, the Netherlands
, Luxembourg
, and Germany
) was entered into the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
.
), wealthy businessman Philip Emmenthal (John Standing
and his son Storey (Matthew Delamere) open their own private harem
in their family residence in Geneva
(they get the idea while watching Federico Fellini
's 8½
and after Storey is "given" a woman, Simato (Shizuka Inoh
), to waive her pachinko
debts). They sign one-year contracts with eight (and a half) women to this effect.
The women each have a gimmick (one is a nun
, another a kabuki
performer, etc.). Philip soon becomes dominated by his favourite of the concubines, Palmira (Polly Walker
), who has no interest in Storey as a lover, despite what their contract might stipulate. Philip dies, the concubines' contracts expire, and Storey is left alone with Giulietta (the titular "½", played by Manna Fujiwara) and of course the money and the houses.
While the film deals with and graphically describes diverse sexual acts in conversation, the film does not feature any sex scenes as such.
, the film is currently Greenaway's lowest-rated film on the site. On Metacritic
, which uses an average of critics' reviews, the film has 36/100, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
The film opened at the box office at #50 with $92,000 and grossed $424,123 domestically.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
written and directed by Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
, and starring John Standing
John Standing
Sir John Ronald Leon Standing, 4th Baronet is an English actor.-Early life:Standing was born John Ronald Leon in London, the son of Kay Hammond , an actress, and Sir Ronald George Leon, a stockbroker...
, Matthew Delamere, and Vivian Wu
Vivian Wu
Vivian Wu , is a Chinese actress, known for her roles in The Last Emperor , Heaven & Earth , The Joy Luck Club , and The Pillow Book and as the historical figure of Soong May-ling, commonly referred to as Madam Chiang Kai-shek, in two major Chinese motion pictures The Soong Sisters and The...
. The international co-production
International co-production
An international co-production is a production where two or more different production companies are working together, for example in a film production...
(the United Kingdom
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
, the Netherlands
Cinema of the Netherlands
Because the Dutch film industry is relatively small, and there is little or no international market for Dutch films, almost all films rely on state funding. This funding can be achieved through several sources, for instance through the Dutch Film Fund or the Dutch public broadcast networks...
, Luxembourg
Cinema of Luxembourg
The Luxembourg film industry is quite small, but this is unsurprising given that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has a population of only about 400,000 people...
, and Germany
Cinema of Germany
Cinema in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema has made major technical and artistic contributions to film.Unlike any other national cinemas, which developed in the context of relatively continuous and stable political systems, Germany witnesses major changes to its...
) was entered into the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
1999 Cannes Film Festival
The 52nd Cannes Film Festival was held on May 12-23, 1999. The Palme d'Or went to the French-Belgian film Rosetta by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.-Jury:* David Cronenberg * André Téchiné * Barbara Hendricks...
.
Plot
After the death of his wife (Claire JohnstonClaire Johnston
Claire Johnston was a feminist film theoretician. She wrote seminal essays on the construction of ideology in mainstream cinema .-Writings:...
), wealthy businessman Philip Emmenthal (John Standing
John Standing
Sir John Ronald Leon Standing, 4th Baronet is an English actor.-Early life:Standing was born John Ronald Leon in London, the son of Kay Hammond , an actress, and Sir Ronald George Leon, a stockbroker...
and his son Storey (Matthew Delamere) open their own private harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
in their family residence in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(they get the idea while watching Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
's 8½
8½
8½ is a 1963 Italian fantasy film directed by Federico Fellini. Co-scripted by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, and Brunello Rondi, it stars Marcello Mastroianni as Guido Anselmi, a famous Italian film director...
and after Storey is "given" a woman, Simato (Shizuka Inoh
Annie Shizuka Inoh
Annie Yi is a singer, a writer and an actress from Republic of China . Born on March 4, 1969 in Taipei with the birthname of Wu Jingyi , she changed her name after her mother remarried, to a Japanese man and then simplified it to Yi Nengjing upon returning to Taiwan in 1988 to launch her singing...
), to waive her pachinko
Pachinko
is a type of game originating in Japan, and used as both a form of recreational arcade game and much more frequently as a gambling device, filling a niche in gambling in Japan comparable to that of the slot machine in Western gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but...
debts). They sign one-year contracts with eight (and a half) women to this effect.
The women each have a gimmick (one is a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, another a kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
performer, etc.). Philip soon becomes dominated by his favourite of the concubines, Palmira (Polly Walker
Polly Walker
Polly Walker is an English actress.- Early life :Walker was born in Warrington, Cheshire, England. Her first school was Silverdale Preparatory West Acton, London. At 16, Walker graduated from Ballet Rambert School in Twickenham, began her career as a dancer, but had to abandon dancing after a leg...
), who has no interest in Storey as a lover, despite what their contract might stipulate. Philip dies, the concubines' contracts expire, and Storey is left alone with Giulietta (the titular "½", played by Manna Fujiwara) and of course the money and the houses.
While the film deals with and graphically describes diverse sexual acts in conversation, the film does not feature any sex scenes as such.
Cast
- John StandingJohn StandingSir John Ronald Leon Standing, 4th Baronet is an English actor.-Early life:Standing was born John Ronald Leon in London, the son of Kay Hammond , an actress, and Sir Ronald George Leon, a stockbroker...
as Philip Emmenthal - Matthew Delamere as Storey Emmenthal
- Vivian WuVivian WuVivian Wu , is a Chinese actress, known for her roles in The Last Emperor , Heaven & Earth , The Joy Luck Club , and The Pillow Book and as the historical figure of Soong May-ling, commonly referred to as Madam Chiang Kai-shek, in two major Chinese motion pictures The Soong Sisters and The...
as Kita - Shizuka InohAnnie Shizuka InohAnnie Yi is a singer, a writer and an actress from Republic of China . Born on March 4, 1969 in Taipei with the birthname of Wu Jingyi , she changed her name after her mother remarried, to a Japanese man and then simplified it to Yi Nengjing upon returning to Taiwan in 1988 to launch her singing...
as Simato - Barbara Sarafian as Clothilde
- Kirina Mano as Mio
- Toni ColletteToni ColletteAntonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
as Griselda/Sister Concordia - Amanda Plummer as Beryl
- Natacha AmalNatacha AmalNatacha Amal is a Belgian actress born to a Moroccan father and a Russian mother in Brussels. She was married with Claude Rappe in 1997, but the couple divorced in 2007.-Cinema:* 1989 : Pentimento by Tonie Marshall, la dame des WC...
as Giaconda the Baby Factory - Manna Fujiwara as Giulietta/Half Woman
- Polly WalkerPolly WalkerPolly Walker is an English actress.- Early life :Walker was born in Warrington, Cheshire, England. Her first school was Silverdale Preparatory West Acton, London. At 16, Walker graduated from Ballet Rambert School in Twickenham, began her career as a dancer, but had to abandon dancing after a leg...
as Palmira - Elizabeth Berrington as Celeste
- Myriam MullerMyriam MullerMyriam Muller is a Luxembourgian actress. She starred in Hochzäitsnuecht, which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Hochzaeitsnuecht * 8½ Women...
as Marianne - Don WarringtonDon WarringtonDon Warrington, MBE is a Trinidadian British actor.-Personal life:Warrington was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 May 1951 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England from age five. His father was the Trinidadian politician, Basil Kydd, who died in 1958. He has two sons.His acting career...
as Simon - Claire JohnstonClaire JohnstonClaire Johnston was a feminist film theoretician. She wrote seminal essays on the construction of ideology in mainstream cinema .-Writings:...
as Amelia
Reception
8½ Women received mixed to negative reviews; it holds a 39% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the film is currently Greenaway's lowest-rated film on the site. On Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which uses an average of critics' reviews, the film has 36/100, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
The film opened at the box office at #50 with $92,000 and grossed $424,123 domestically.