I liked everything about this movie, the story, casting, acting, direction, everything. Some frames are so beautiful that they look like paintings (think Degas and one frame, Seurat). The casting was perfect and Richardson delivered one of the bravest and best performances I've ever seen. The tension between both pairs of women--it was an amazing way to build suspense. Even if you don't completely understand the relationship between the two sisters, their passion is obvious. What a great find this movie is.
29 Reviews
For Chabrol fans and action movie lovers with insomnia
przgzr5 May 2005
Long, long time ago people used to care what was happening to others. Today people just don't bother to think about anybody but themselves. Maybe it's because the populations is growing and communications bring whole world in our homes. We got used to big stuff. If it's an earthquake it must peak at least 8 on Richter scale. If a plane crashes it must be a 747. If a murder happens, only massacres or terrorist attacks reach the audience.
But there are still parts of world where people are not so used to big events, still live in their small local community and if something shatters it they still ask themselves - how could it have happened? 'Sister, My Sister' analyzes a crime, a murder that today wouldn't be heard of further than district or maybe a (smaller) state border. But back in 30's, more than for cruelty itself, people were shocked because of circumstances, it was committed where no one could expect it. Two girls raised by nuns, working for a respected family that never have complained, in fact was even proud how good servants they had, suddenly murdered mother and daughter they've been working for. Being a drama and not a crime movie, this film doesn't let us know something so drastically would happen till the very end. In ordinary crime movie we would see a murder scene in opening sequences and than some detective or forensic would investigate till, at the end of the movie, a whole puzzle could be revealed and a long flash-back would show us what preceded the crime. In this movie, however, we see everything grow, develop, boil in a pot with no valve to let any steam out. Four woman with hidden or undeveloped emotions fail to build any human relations. Mother and daughter just live under the same roof, in same room, but don't contact further than aristocratic rules permit. Daughter has nothing to do with servants, though she is a bit attracted to younger sister. Mother won't talk to them unless a special occasion occurs. Even when not pleased with their work she just shows with finger in a glove what has to be done better. In a great scene she talks to her daughter for a few minutes what should be done or corrected, not a single word addressed to servants who were standing next to her. Sisters, suffering from lack of love and emotions till early childhood, rejected first by mother, than by nuns, and having no chances to meet anyone in such environment, turned their emotions to each other crossing a line of sister's love. This relationship leads them to break the last connections with family, and hide in a shell of their room.
Three interesting, different characters in a hermetically closed hypocritical house. Nothing should be changed, such a world must stay calm for centuries, or otherwise it loses its position in its hypocritical community. The trouble is that four characters are credited, and one of them, Isabelle, the daughter, is a weak corner of a square. Nothing interesting, just a few scenes and lines, she is there like a piece of furniture. But, then, maybe it's not a failure in a script, but one more strong accusation against such a society. She was the only one born in the house. She had no chance to become different from a stylistic chair or a piece of expensive tea set. She had no chance to become a person. And that is the most terrible thing in forming of a human being. Children raised to be objects of an exhibition, praised by other same-type parents who expect praises for same-type children they have.
Lea and Christine had emotions deprived throughout their childhood. In this environment their emotions became free but uncontrolled, in a wrong but only possible way. In forbidden relations and in crime. Their emotions, as Paul Simon wrote, "echoed in the wells of silence". And this echo was too strong, again as all the years before. Mother didn't listen. Nuns turned their back. This echo committed the murder.
This is the best all-woman movie I've ever seen. Only one man I can think of is capable of doing this type of movies. If you like Chabrol, don't miss this one: his legacy lives. If you're an action-movie lover suffering from insomnia, buy this one instead of Valium. It's healthier. You won't get addicted.
But there are still parts of world where people are not so used to big events, still live in their small local community and if something shatters it they still ask themselves - how could it have happened? 'Sister, My Sister' analyzes a crime, a murder that today wouldn't be heard of further than district or maybe a (smaller) state border. But back in 30's, more than for cruelty itself, people were shocked because of circumstances, it was committed where no one could expect it. Two girls raised by nuns, working for a respected family that never have complained, in fact was even proud how good servants they had, suddenly murdered mother and daughter they've been working for. Being a drama and not a crime movie, this film doesn't let us know something so drastically would happen till the very end. In ordinary crime movie we would see a murder scene in opening sequences and than some detective or forensic would investigate till, at the end of the movie, a whole puzzle could be revealed and a long flash-back would show us what preceded the crime. In this movie, however, we see everything grow, develop, boil in a pot with no valve to let any steam out. Four woman with hidden or undeveloped emotions fail to build any human relations. Mother and daughter just live under the same roof, in same room, but don't contact further than aristocratic rules permit. Daughter has nothing to do with servants, though she is a bit attracted to younger sister. Mother won't talk to them unless a special occasion occurs. Even when not pleased with their work she just shows with finger in a glove what has to be done better. In a great scene she talks to her daughter for a few minutes what should be done or corrected, not a single word addressed to servants who were standing next to her. Sisters, suffering from lack of love and emotions till early childhood, rejected first by mother, than by nuns, and having no chances to meet anyone in such environment, turned their emotions to each other crossing a line of sister's love. This relationship leads them to break the last connections with family, and hide in a shell of their room.
Three interesting, different characters in a hermetically closed hypocritical house. Nothing should be changed, such a world must stay calm for centuries, or otherwise it loses its position in its hypocritical community. The trouble is that four characters are credited, and one of them, Isabelle, the daughter, is a weak corner of a square. Nothing interesting, just a few scenes and lines, she is there like a piece of furniture. But, then, maybe it's not a failure in a script, but one more strong accusation against such a society. She was the only one born in the house. She had no chance to become different from a stylistic chair or a piece of expensive tea set. She had no chance to become a person. And that is the most terrible thing in forming of a human being. Children raised to be objects of an exhibition, praised by other same-type parents who expect praises for same-type children they have.
Lea and Christine had emotions deprived throughout their childhood. In this environment their emotions became free but uncontrolled, in a wrong but only possible way. In forbidden relations and in crime. Their emotions, as Paul Simon wrote, "echoed in the wells of silence". And this echo was too strong, again as all the years before. Mother didn't listen. Nuns turned their back. This echo committed the murder.
This is the best all-woman movie I've ever seen. Only one man I can think of is capable of doing this type of movies. If you like Chabrol, don't miss this one: his legacy lives. If you're an action-movie lover suffering from insomnia, buy this one instead of Valium. It's healthier. You won't get addicted.
A powerfully compelling psychodrama not for everyone
=G=3 November 2002
"Sister My Sister" tells of two live-in sibling housemaids working for a stingy, authoritarian dowager and her homely adult daughter in 1930's France. A dark, trudging, and eerily claustrophobic psychodrama, the film's compelling story waxes in severity as unspoken pressures and silent circumstance tear a rift between maids and mistress. Although the film deals with repressed sexuality, incest, pent-up hostility, and madness, it relies more on atmosphere and finely nuanced behavior to tell its story than in-your-face graphic sex, nudity, and mayhem. A masterwork of the less-is-more school film making which shows how so much can be accomplished with so little, "SMS" is a paradigm for indie auteurs and a spellbinding watch for the few. (B+)
Powerfully Dark
all-briscoe4 April 2004
A film featuring lesbian incest and violence could easily descend into a sensationalist mess. This film avoids such pitfalls and is exceptionally good.
The atmosphere throughout the film is extremely dark and is absolutely fitting for such a disturbing tale. Very rarely do any of the characters smile. Tension, guilt and suspicion are present throughout. Most of the film takes place in dark interiors and even the outdoor scenes are marked by grim weather.
There are only four significant characters and all are splendidly written and acted. The direction and design are very strong. Very sensibly, explicit sex and violence scenes are avoided to allow concentration on character and atmosphere.Particular commendation should also go to Stephen Warbeck for his melancholy, sparse, music which fits the action perfectly.
This is a notable film in another respect. No male character is seen at all - there are a couple of male voiceovers but otherwise this is an exclusively female performance. This is a bold move, but very successful. "Sister My Sister" should certainly appeal to any discerning viewer who appreciates thoughtful drama.
The atmosphere throughout the film is extremely dark and is absolutely fitting for such a disturbing tale. Very rarely do any of the characters smile. Tension, guilt and suspicion are present throughout. Most of the film takes place in dark interiors and even the outdoor scenes are marked by grim weather.
There are only four significant characters and all are splendidly written and acted. The direction and design are very strong. Very sensibly, explicit sex and violence scenes are avoided to allow concentration on character and atmosphere.Particular commendation should also go to Stephen Warbeck for his melancholy, sparse, music which fits the action perfectly.
This is a notable film in another respect. No male character is seen at all - there are a couple of male voiceovers but otherwise this is an exclusively female performance. This is a bold move, but very successful. "Sister My Sister" should certainly appeal to any discerning viewer who appreciates thoughtful drama.
Interesting and sick,...but I'm not sure what the point is about the film
planktonrules11 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Two sisters have a job working as maids for a lady and her older daughter. At first, the family is thrilled, but over time there is a slow change in the sisters. The begin withdrawing and talking almost never at all with their employers, but they continue doing their job. Then, kind of out of the blue, the sisters begin having hot sex with each other (ewwww). From this point on, they withdraw even more and begin sneaking caresses and kisses when they should be working. As the sisters change, the employers begin to resent and despise having them there--finding fault in most everything they do.
SISTER MY SISTER is based on a true story of two sisters who worked as maids for a lady and her daughter. Unfortunately, this all occurred a long time ago and the dead cannot give their side of the story. So, the film is a dramatization of what they THINK could have occurred leading up to the sisters murdering their employers. And, in the film, you are led to slowly care less and less about the eventual victims--almost excusing how they were so cruelly butchered. This aspect of the film really bothered me, as some might feel excessive connection with the evil events and those who perpetrated it.
Still, despite this, the film is well acted and paced. I just didn't understand the WHY.
SISTER MY SISTER is based on a true story of two sisters who worked as maids for a lady and her daughter. Unfortunately, this all occurred a long time ago and the dead cannot give their side of the story. So, the film is a dramatization of what they THINK could have occurred leading up to the sisters murdering their employers. And, in the film, you are led to slowly care less and less about the eventual victims--almost excusing how they were so cruelly butchered. This aspect of the film really bothered me, as some might feel excessive connection with the evil events and those who perpetrated it.
Still, despite this, the film is well acted and paced. I just didn't understand the WHY.
surprised
thewlwl26 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I got this movie from a porn mag believe it or not. I was expecting some porn. What i got was a dark, gloomy drama with no nudity. However after i got over the disappointment of no porn, i found it to be a well made movie, though it does drag in some parts. It might be the most depressing movie I have ever seen. Some of the scenes gave me goosebumps like when the maid has to pick up all the pins from the floor one by one.
If you are looking for hot lesbo porn look elsewhere.The ending does have the sisters in bed topless and covered in blood, but you don't see boobs. If you are looking for a slow dark and very depressing drama i cant recommend this enough!
If you are looking for hot lesbo porn look elsewhere.The ending does have the sisters in bed topless and covered in blood, but you don't see boobs. If you are looking for a slow dark and very depressing drama i cant recommend this enough!
A Claustrophobic French Household Contains Dark Deeds
gradyharp14 September 2005
There is a major player in this extremely fine film who goes all but unmentioned: the work of cinematographer Ashley Rowe is some of the finest on film, creating an atmosphere solely within the confines of a home made dark by lack of light and by brooding madness and murder. The effect achieved is nothing short of miraculous and further adds to the importance of this under-rated movie.
Based on the infamous Papin sisters' murder of their employer and daughter in 1932 in France, SISTER MY SISTER is based on a play by Wendy Kesselman (who also wrote the mesmerizing screenplay) and is directed by the imaginatively fine Nancy Meckler. Two sisters - Christine the eldest (Joely Richardson) and Lea (Jodhi May) are shown during the titles in black and white as poor orphans separated to different ends. As the film begins Christine has introduced her estranged beloved Lea to her employer, the rigid and strange Madame Danzard (Julie Walters) and her wallflower daughter Isabelle (Sophie Thursfield). Lea is hired by the penny pinching Madame Danzard and the two sisters co-serve as maids to the household. Christine and Lea view each other as not only sisters but as lovers and it is this latter role that leads Madame Danzard (spying contemptibly on the girls) that is the final straw in Madame's mistreatment of the girls that leads to the rather shocking murder of both Madame Danzard and Isabelle. We know from the start - both from the infamous case and from the opening sequences where the blood of the deed is seen along the stairwell - what the ending will be: it is the progress to that end that concerns the film.
Each of the actresses is brilliant in their roles, roles that are far cries from the usual types that each actress has played. Julie Walters manages to ooze vitriol while moments later being oddly comedic in her la-la land of dancing to her Victrola. Joely Richardson is terrifyingly strange and Jodhi May says more with her facial expressions than legions of actors do with complex scripts. But again the physical ominous presence of the house of bad things is so magnificently created by Rowe's creative photography that is becomes of equal importance as a character. The musical score by Stephen Warbeck works solidly to convey the descent into madness of the two sisters. A brilliant tour de force for all concerned and highly recommended for those who love fine acting and dark thrillers. Grady Harp
Based on the infamous Papin sisters' murder of their employer and daughter in 1932 in France, SISTER MY SISTER is based on a play by Wendy Kesselman (who also wrote the mesmerizing screenplay) and is directed by the imaginatively fine Nancy Meckler. Two sisters - Christine the eldest (Joely Richardson) and Lea (Jodhi May) are shown during the titles in black and white as poor orphans separated to different ends. As the film begins Christine has introduced her estranged beloved Lea to her employer, the rigid and strange Madame Danzard (Julie Walters) and her wallflower daughter Isabelle (Sophie Thursfield). Lea is hired by the penny pinching Madame Danzard and the two sisters co-serve as maids to the household. Christine and Lea view each other as not only sisters but as lovers and it is this latter role that leads Madame Danzard (spying contemptibly on the girls) that is the final straw in Madame's mistreatment of the girls that leads to the rather shocking murder of both Madame Danzard and Isabelle. We know from the start - both from the infamous case and from the opening sequences where the blood of the deed is seen along the stairwell - what the ending will be: it is the progress to that end that concerns the film.
Each of the actresses is brilliant in their roles, roles that are far cries from the usual types that each actress has played. Julie Walters manages to ooze vitriol while moments later being oddly comedic in her la-la land of dancing to her Victrola. Joely Richardson is terrifyingly strange and Jodhi May says more with her facial expressions than legions of actors do with complex scripts. But again the physical ominous presence of the house of bad things is so magnificently created by Rowe's creative photography that is becomes of equal importance as a character. The musical score by Stephen Warbeck works solidly to convey the descent into madness of the two sisters. A brilliant tour de force for all concerned and highly recommended for those who love fine acting and dark thrillers. Grady Harp
A Sad, Dark, True Story
AngelHonesty28 April 2024
I was intrigued to watch this because it's based on a true story, but I felt cautious due to its content of lesbian incest. Soon after watching the movie all my cautions vanished. It's surprisingly a good film, very dark, but well constructed.
I think the reason the movie does so well with the sensitive subject matter is that the sisters never feel like sisters. They feel like lovers from the first time you see them. And the relationship comes across as mutual. It's done in a very gentle manner that shows so much love and kindness between the two. And then as the film goes on we see a decent into madness. But you can't help but feel for the sisters and thair horrible circumstances and life. From abuse to isolation to really only having each other its understandable what happened in the end.
The movie is dark especially how things end up. For only having four characters in the movie, it did a really good job with keeping its intensity and pace. I never felt board. The acting was amazing. Jodhi May who play Lea made those panic attacks look and feel real. Her anxiety was palpable. Joely Richardson who played Christine was fabulous with the extreme intensity she brought to the screen. One moment she could be the embodiment of kindness and love. The next she is a raging mad woman.
I looked into the facts of the true story behind this movie and felt a little disappointed. It does follow the story pretty well and adds in all the main points. But the real story is more awful and intense. And would have made a better movie if they would have followed it more closely. It would have been nice to have added more of the backstory of their childhood to give more context for their actions. And they were abused by their employer for years causing them to come to the end of themselves. It's a really interesting read. It's too bad they didn't add in more.
I think the reason the movie does so well with the sensitive subject matter is that the sisters never feel like sisters. They feel like lovers from the first time you see them. And the relationship comes across as mutual. It's done in a very gentle manner that shows so much love and kindness between the two. And then as the film goes on we see a decent into madness. But you can't help but feel for the sisters and thair horrible circumstances and life. From abuse to isolation to really only having each other its understandable what happened in the end.
The movie is dark especially how things end up. For only having four characters in the movie, it did a really good job with keeping its intensity and pace. I never felt board. The acting was amazing. Jodhi May who play Lea made those panic attacks look and feel real. Her anxiety was palpable. Joely Richardson who played Christine was fabulous with the extreme intensity she brought to the screen. One moment she could be the embodiment of kindness and love. The next she is a raging mad woman.
I looked into the facts of the true story behind this movie and felt a little disappointed. It does follow the story pretty well and adds in all the main points. But the real story is more awful and intense. And would have made a better movie if they would have followed it more closely. It would have been nice to have added more of the backstory of their childhood to give more context for their actions. And they were abused by their employer for years causing them to come to the end of themselves. It's a really interesting read. It's too bad they didn't add in more.
Spare, dark and beautiful film.
8up2l87 May 2001
I loved Sister, My Sister...in fact, I bought it without having seen it first based on recommendation alone, and I haven't regretted it one bit. I think that the acting was great, by the entire cast; I felt that the storyline (based on an actual murder case and subsequent play), though revisited in this film, is still relevant in that it addresses issues of classism, oppression, and societal stigmatization. To dismiss this film as merely an incestuous, murderous lesbian romp is a mistake. Even though the lesbian subject seemed to be a large factor, there is a definite timidity to the photography of the sex scenes, in that there was more in the way of well framed shots than fleshy action given the intensity of feeling portrayed. So probably, the film isn't as offensive as the description might imply. I feel that the film was evenly handled throughout. Even the murders, while fairly gruesome as described in the voiceover of the trial, weren't disgustingly splatter film-like, they, like the sex scenes left much to the imagination. I recommend this film highly, it's not at all fluffy feel-good schlock, it's disturbing, dark and painful - that's what makes it so good!
ponderous and just plain boring
elvedon18 May 2003
Warning: Spoilers
You'd think a movie about incestuous sisters who eventually murder their employer couldn't help but be gripping, but then you'd be wrong.
There is no plot. There is no character development. There is no redeeming visual beauty.
This movie is a waste of time. The exploration of how the relationship between the sisters develops is nil, their sexuality is never anything but a grotesque, the class relationships are glossed over, and employer is a silly caricature.
Ponderous silences and period clothing do not equal depth of meaning.
There is no plot. There is no character development. There is no redeeming visual beauty.
This movie is a waste of time. The exploration of how the relationship between the sisters develops is nil, their sexuality is never anything but a grotesque, the class relationships are glossed over, and employer is a silly caricature.
Ponderous silences and period clothing do not equal depth of meaning.
Disturbing
strangeland_tours21 June 2007
The song at the start lets you know it won't be all pretty, it's a film loaded with repression, fears, despair and a developing mental breakdown.
I strongly recommend everyone (who likes that kind of things) to watch it and are looking for a film that will make you think about how society can isolate it's members from both sides.
I do not think homosexuality is the big factor here, watch closely and you'll see it's more about hitting bottom line.
There are other movies based on sisters Papin, unfortunately I haven't watched any of these, I can tell all of you tho, that these British actresses are of very fine quality, the entire ambient is dark and makes you inhale deeper.
This is my first review ever, so I hope it helps anyone to decide on whether watch Sister my sister or not.
I strongly recommend everyone (who likes that kind of things) to watch it and are looking for a film that will make you think about how society can isolate it's members from both sides.
I do not think homosexuality is the big factor here, watch closely and you'll see it's more about hitting bottom line.
There are other movies based on sisters Papin, unfortunately I haven't watched any of these, I can tell all of you tho, that these British actresses are of very fine quality, the entire ambient is dark and makes you inhale deeper.
This is my first review ever, so I hope it helps anyone to decide on whether watch Sister my sister or not.
The Good, The Bad, & The Kinky
Brian-26831 March 2000
This otherwise ponderous, arty pic is saved (but just barely) by some enthusiastic lesbian scenes between the two appealing leads. A hothouse atmosphere prevails, but the guilty pleasure is offset somewhat by arch performances and a good amount of scenery chewing. Numbingly dull and pointless in places, the film murks its way to a preposterous and over-the-top climax that sets a new standard in pretentious portent. The film clobbers the audience over the head in the most ridiculously blatant manner with its psychological interplay, which at times comes embarrassingly close to the level of tedious undergrad productions.
However the forbidden ardor between the sisters is just enough to make this a worthwhile selection for those who like that kind of thing. Brittle feminists will probably also enjoy it.
However the forbidden ardor between the sisters is just enough to make this a worthwhile selection for those who like that kind of thing. Brittle feminists will probably also enjoy it.
Beautiful and Twisted Sisters
badattit2 December 1998
This is a great film for oppressed workers. We who toil daily can't help but identify with the two sisters, trapped, terrified of being fired, with only one another to turn to. Their revenge is terrible, but also, in a twisted sort of way,understandable. Besides being a beautifully acted film with a sustained mood of wonder mixed with dread, Sister My Sister explores taboo subjects: incest, lesbianism, and worker revenge. I have frequently recommended this movie to friends, and everyone of them has loved it!
This is Why Movies are Made
JM_Hizon2 January 2013
Most viewers could gloss over this film and say that it's about incest, or lesbian incest. But it's not; it's about class warfare. Or rather, a cold war between the upper and lower class. Neither side wants to commit the first strike. But when it finally happens, it unravels savagely as years of bottled-up frustration erupt at the worst possible time.
It's also a parable about the unnatural structure of state society. One that creates predicaments in which people like the Papin sisters could be mentally repressed to the extent that their sexuality is misguided in an unorthodox direction. Christine and Lea's suffering happened because society has become complacent in the way class order is practiced.
I enjoyed this narrative because there's no plot, yet the antagonist is clear from the beginning. The harder the oppressor bears down on Christine and Lea, the more introverted their sexual energy became.
From an artistic stand point, this was an exercise in subtlety. At no point does the script underestimate the viewer's intelligence. Only available lighting was used- creating an atmosphere of seclusion and privacy while underlining the fact that Christine and Lea's conduct were perfectly natural (given their circumstances). Low color saturation emphasizes the inhibiting nature of man-made social structure.
At one point, we cross cut between the madame and Izabelle playing cards with the maids having sex- indicating the distinction between superficial pleasure and organic pleasure. The performances are an example of four actresses who genuinely enjoy acting. It's a shame movies like this are difficult to find and are rarely viewed.
It's also a parable about the unnatural structure of state society. One that creates predicaments in which people like the Papin sisters could be mentally repressed to the extent that their sexuality is misguided in an unorthodox direction. Christine and Lea's suffering happened because society has become complacent in the way class order is practiced.
I enjoyed this narrative because there's no plot, yet the antagonist is clear from the beginning. The harder the oppressor bears down on Christine and Lea, the more introverted their sexual energy became.
From an artistic stand point, this was an exercise in subtlety. At no point does the script underestimate the viewer's intelligence. Only available lighting was used- creating an atmosphere of seclusion and privacy while underlining the fact that Christine and Lea's conduct were perfectly natural (given their circumstances). Low color saturation emphasizes the inhibiting nature of man-made social structure.
At one point, we cross cut between the madame and Izabelle playing cards with the maids having sex- indicating the distinction between superficial pleasure and organic pleasure. The performances are an example of four actresses who genuinely enjoy acting. It's a shame movies like this are difficult to find and are rarely viewed.
Riveting...in a Perverse Way (Not that there's anything wrong with that)
chconnol8 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I caught this movie one Sunday morning on HBO nearly seven years ago and I've never forgotten it. I had never heard of it before but ended up watching it because I was up early with my baby daughter (OK...so maybe it's not exactly the type of movie to watch with a sleeping infant in your arms but I couldn't get up to change the channel because I thought I'd wake her). ANYWAY...let's just say that anyone calling this boring is way off the mark. This is one of those movie's that is so odd but strangely compelling that you are completely riveted to it. It's very sensationalistic with all the Lesbianism and such but it creates such a creepy undercurrent of tension and anxiety that it's nearly impossible to resist watching it. The two women (actually a Mother, played by the wildly UNDER-rated Julie Walters and her dowdy daughter) are at first happy with their live in maids. But slowly both the Mother and Daughter's cloistered lives intertwine with the Maids. Jealousy and rivalry begin to tear apart at all of their lives. The teenaged daughter is secretly jealous of the maid's freedom in going out. There is one brilliant scene where the Mother at first tells the daughter that they might go to Paris. This gets the Daughter incredibly excited and happy and then the Mother abruptly (and deliberatly and cruelly) changes her mind to emotionally torture the young girl. The end result is a scene *SPOILERS HERE* of breathtaking violence. I don't think I'm going too far in comparing it with the ending of Scorcese's "Taxi Driver". Both endings have a strange kind of orgasmic quality of it. Both movies build up the tension among its characters that eventually (almost inevitably) leads to an explosion of violence. The acting is uniformly good throughout. Amazing to consider that there are only four characters in the whole movie. A great find. Not for all tastes (prudish types or easily shocked BEWARE!) But for others, especially those with a penchant for odd stories like the kind you find in True-Crime fiction type books and magazines, this one is for you!
Murderous Maids is much better.
karinalovesselena5 January 2022
I watched this movie way back last year, and this is what I experienced on watching this.
The film is darker, and somewhat scarier especially on the last part of the film. However, the it is somehow not getting the point of the story whether it is really based on true events or they're just creating an original story.
Their Madame Lancelin (whatever her name in this movie) looks like a typical master who is a comedic and only cares about her daughter, while their Genevieve (whatever her name) is much like a mere decoration. And also Christine doesn't show her obsession towards her younger sister and her madness towards having paranoid schizophrenia is not enough shown in this movie. Plus their love scenes are way too boring, or too much censored despite of the steamy-looking movie poster. Aside from these, there are other characters in this film who are not explorable enough, like a nun named Veronica something that she has a connection to Christine whether if she is Emilia or not.
If you're looking for a full-dramatization of the story of these two sisters, better watch Les Blessures Assassines (Murderous Maids) instead. This movie lacks of story-telling about the infamous sisters who committed crime in France, and also the insanity and madness of the elder sister.
The film is darker, and somewhat scarier especially on the last part of the film. However, the it is somehow not getting the point of the story whether it is really based on true events or they're just creating an original story.
Their Madame Lancelin (whatever her name in this movie) looks like a typical master who is a comedic and only cares about her daughter, while their Genevieve (whatever her name) is much like a mere decoration. And also Christine doesn't show her obsession towards her younger sister and her madness towards having paranoid schizophrenia is not enough shown in this movie. Plus their love scenes are way too boring, or too much censored despite of the steamy-looking movie poster. Aside from these, there are other characters in this film who are not explorable enough, like a nun named Veronica something that she has a connection to Christine whether if she is Emilia or not.
If you're looking for a full-dramatization of the story of these two sisters, better watch Les Blessures Assassines (Murderous Maids) instead. This movie lacks of story-telling about the infamous sisters who committed crime in France, and also the insanity and madness of the elder sister.
ASTONISHING ACTING
mk_k6-326-62662118 December 2018
This is a profoundly disturbing and intriguing character study based on true events. The writing and directing is subtle and beautifully lyrical - the twist in this film is anything but predictable. However it is the acting in the film which its real glory, Julie Walters is brilliant as is Jodhi May - but it is Joely Richardson who delivers a tour de force. Just like her mother, she is profoundly entrancing to watch - understated with volcanic eruptions at the just the right moments. She deserved an Oscar nomination for this - as did they all. Well worth a watch.
Interestng film based on a true story
loeb12312 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Film is based on the infamous Papin case which rocked France in 1933. In the town of Le Mans, Monsieur Lancelin, a retired solicitor, lived with his wife and daughter. Seven years earlier, the family had hired two sisters as maids, the elder Christine and younger Lea. Madame Lancelin was strict and would wear white gloves to check for dust and there was surprisingly little personal interaction between the family and maids. One afternoon Monsieur Lancelein came home to pick up his wife and daughter for a dinner engagement and found the door bolted. After awhile police got in through a back window. They found the bodies of Madame Lancelin and her daughter; heads bludgeoned beyond recognition and legs carved like pieces of French bread. Weapons were a pewter jug, hammer and knife. Unique to this case, was the fact that their eyes had been gouged out while they were alive. The maids were found upstairs and confessed. The younger had twice blown out the house fuse and feared reprisal from the mistress of the house. The maids attacked them both when they arrived home; the younger following what the older did. The case became a cause celebre in France as an example of the cultural chasm between employer and servant. The case was also made into a play The Maids by Genet and another film - Murderous Maids. Interesting that all psychiatric testimony about the pair (incest and an extremely dysfunctional background and family) was dismissed by the small town jury but later resulted in such evidence being admitted into French trials.
Finally a horror-drama that isn't stupid or dull.
fedor86 January 2007
The first fifteen-twenty minutes don't promise that much, but after that the film gets more and more interesting, all the way to the fascinating and brutal finale. Well-made, very well-acted, and an intelligent story (based on a real case) of sexual, emotional and any-other-kind-you-can-think-of repression. The director intentionally didn't show any men, even when their voices are heard (the photographer, the lawyers); this was done to try to show just how isolated and in their own world the two nun-turned-maid sisters really were. The characterization is flawless, and the increasing tension in the house is reflected by suitably atmospheric direction.
Frighteningly jarring yet captivatingly beautiful
I_Ailurophile21 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The movie wastes no time, immediately making an impression on us. The setting and music conveys a particular air, and the cast brings their characters to vivid life. 'Sister my sister' is foremost a portrait of the Papins, and their employer, and in that aim it excels.
The opening shot pans across the aftermath of a bloody crime, jolting in its visage, while the stirring strings of composer Stephen Warbeck evoke both pending drama and a certain nostalgia. The Danzard home, finely furnished, nonetheless feels empty in its occupation by only the mistress and her daughter, in a way echoing the spartan presentation of the feature that seems to pointedly eschew pretense. The picture relies wholly on the progression of the narrative and the depictions of its characters, without any hooks or twists to snag our attention beyond what it holds of its own merits.
Importantly, it's the characterizations and the performances of the cast that make 'Sister my sister' the compelling film that it is. Julie Walters is outstanding and lively as Madame Danzard, a portrayal that contrasts sharply with the more kindly roles she's often known for. The Madame is superficially sweet, and caring, but that facade conceals a considerable cruelty in her expectations and demands. The biting criticism she lays upon the Papins for even their appearance is unbearable to the point that she's totally unsympathetic. Her daughter Isabelle (Sophia Thursfield), though hard of personality, is submissive to her mother - yet essentially just as unreasonable.
Above all, the bond shared by Christine and her younger sister Lea is paramount, as close-knit as two siblings could possibly be. Similar as they are to one another, Christine is more forceful, forthright, and angry in personality, while Lea is far less confident, and desperately craves love. In both, though, there's a sense of co-dependence, progressively increasing as the Danzards become more exacting. That Christine and Lea begin to share a consensual, incestuous lesbian relationship doesn't even feel as salacious as society would want us to judge. For all the harshness they endure from their employer, and the lack of affection they've known from anyone but each other, their affair seems less scandalous and much more natural. And, even given the finale - especially in light of Madame Danzard's attitudes - it's easy to sympathize with the sisters.
Joely Richardson and Jodhi May are outstanding as Christine and Lea, respectively, giving emotionally charged performances with nuance and fantastic on-screen chemistry. They both readily draw forth from the depths of the sisters' complexities to realize them on film - easily matching Walters in her craft. Christine and Lea's gradual loss of composure, simmering contempt, and intensifying passion work in concert to build toward the climax, and as a moviegoer it's a joy to watch Richardson and May capture every bit of that turmoil.
Between the sisters' sexual relationship and the ultimate act of violence, it would have been very easy for 'Sister my sister' to indulge in sensationalism. Yet between Wendy Kesselman's adapted screenplay and Nancy Meckler's direction, these scenes are depicted in such a way as to give us a clear picture of events without being explicit. Christine and Lea are shown plainly unclothed in bed together, or sharing pleasure, but betray no censor-ready nudity for the camera. We see sprays of blood and tumbling bodies as the Danzards are felled without any need to visualize the blows that caused that bloodshed. It takes a deft hand to approach such moments more tactfully without robbing viewers of our visceral enjoyment, but Meckler capably does so, and it's a bit refreshing to see.
There are noteworthy themes at play including classism and privilege, the struggle of labor, and childhood neglect. Significant as they are generally to the tale being told, these are rendered secondary to the honest, marvelous portrayals of the Papin sisters and the events of their tenure with the Danzards. The low-key presentation of the film leaves it to the audience to take what they will from the experience, though the drift of sentiment is obvious.
Anyone watching with expectations of a graphic lesbian romance, or a bloody crime thriller, may find themselves put out as these aspects are more gracefully depicted with notable refined elegance. Yet the story of Christine and Lea is compelling and heart-breaking, and the performances alone are worth the proverbial price of admission. 'Sister my sister' is an engaging, worthy view, wherever one may find it.
The opening shot pans across the aftermath of a bloody crime, jolting in its visage, while the stirring strings of composer Stephen Warbeck evoke both pending drama and a certain nostalgia. The Danzard home, finely furnished, nonetheless feels empty in its occupation by only the mistress and her daughter, in a way echoing the spartan presentation of the feature that seems to pointedly eschew pretense. The picture relies wholly on the progression of the narrative and the depictions of its characters, without any hooks or twists to snag our attention beyond what it holds of its own merits.
Importantly, it's the characterizations and the performances of the cast that make 'Sister my sister' the compelling film that it is. Julie Walters is outstanding and lively as Madame Danzard, a portrayal that contrasts sharply with the more kindly roles she's often known for. The Madame is superficially sweet, and caring, but that facade conceals a considerable cruelty in her expectations and demands. The biting criticism she lays upon the Papins for even their appearance is unbearable to the point that she's totally unsympathetic. Her daughter Isabelle (Sophia Thursfield), though hard of personality, is submissive to her mother - yet essentially just as unreasonable.
Above all, the bond shared by Christine and her younger sister Lea is paramount, as close-knit as two siblings could possibly be. Similar as they are to one another, Christine is more forceful, forthright, and angry in personality, while Lea is far less confident, and desperately craves love. In both, though, there's a sense of co-dependence, progressively increasing as the Danzards become more exacting. That Christine and Lea begin to share a consensual, incestuous lesbian relationship doesn't even feel as salacious as society would want us to judge. For all the harshness they endure from their employer, and the lack of affection they've known from anyone but each other, their affair seems less scandalous and much more natural. And, even given the finale - especially in light of Madame Danzard's attitudes - it's easy to sympathize with the sisters.
Joely Richardson and Jodhi May are outstanding as Christine and Lea, respectively, giving emotionally charged performances with nuance and fantastic on-screen chemistry. They both readily draw forth from the depths of the sisters' complexities to realize them on film - easily matching Walters in her craft. Christine and Lea's gradual loss of composure, simmering contempt, and intensifying passion work in concert to build toward the climax, and as a moviegoer it's a joy to watch Richardson and May capture every bit of that turmoil.
Between the sisters' sexual relationship and the ultimate act of violence, it would have been very easy for 'Sister my sister' to indulge in sensationalism. Yet between Wendy Kesselman's adapted screenplay and Nancy Meckler's direction, these scenes are depicted in such a way as to give us a clear picture of events without being explicit. Christine and Lea are shown plainly unclothed in bed together, or sharing pleasure, but betray no censor-ready nudity for the camera. We see sprays of blood and tumbling bodies as the Danzards are felled without any need to visualize the blows that caused that bloodshed. It takes a deft hand to approach such moments more tactfully without robbing viewers of our visceral enjoyment, but Meckler capably does so, and it's a bit refreshing to see.
There are noteworthy themes at play including classism and privilege, the struggle of labor, and childhood neglect. Significant as they are generally to the tale being told, these are rendered secondary to the honest, marvelous portrayals of the Papin sisters and the events of their tenure with the Danzards. The low-key presentation of the film leaves it to the audience to take what they will from the experience, though the drift of sentiment is obvious.
Anyone watching with expectations of a graphic lesbian romance, or a bloody crime thriller, may find themselves put out as these aspects are more gracefully depicted with notable refined elegance. Yet the story of Christine and Lea is compelling and heart-breaking, and the performances alone are worth the proverbial price of admission. 'Sister my sister' is an engaging, worthy view, wherever one may find it.
brilliantly done
sdillon-526 July 2006
what a brilliant film. every moment is just dripping with the heat of it. every drop of water from the tap intensifies as the story persists and comes, all at once and with some ferocity, to it's apex.
jodhi may is stunning. joely richardson is breath-taking and frightening. you come to understand them and to... well, to like them. julie walters and sophie thursfield provide some comical relief as the madame and her daughter isabelle. their interactions with one another are strikingly bourgeoisie, but equally as maddening as each little minutia of their day is brought to an extreme. bravo to the makers of this film.
it will stay with me for days, if not weeks, if not a lifetime.
jodhi may is stunning. joely richardson is breath-taking and frightening. you come to understand them and to... well, to like them. julie walters and sophie thursfield provide some comical relief as the madame and her daughter isabelle. their interactions with one another are strikingly bourgeoisie, but equally as maddening as each little minutia of their day is brought to an extreme. bravo to the makers of this film.
it will stay with me for days, if not weeks, if not a lifetime.
this hauntingly lurid movie is powerful
by-tor-230 January 2001
It could be said that good acting is that which requires a minimum of words to convey its idea or stir up the viewer's emotions. In this way, Jodhi May has proven herself as an astounding actress. Meek, yet passionate in her role as a sweet repressed sister, she steals the show with a third the dialogue of her costars. The movie demonstrates how facile the wealthy can be in their overestimation of the subservient's tolerance for callousness and mistreatment. This is a quiet movie that seems to soak in the sound around its viewing space like air through a partially open door---a phantom moving silent through the room, but not without leaving its indelible footprints behind.
..
mreidoku5 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
First, I must confess that I am a big fan of films about lesbians or films with lesbian themes. Though this film also contained incest, because it was between siblings I was not put off and found the incest element to make the film even more captivating. For me, the selling point of the film is the relationship between the two sisters, Christine and Lea. There are many beautiful scenes which show the closeness of the two sisters, and their affection and love for each other.
However, I felt the plot had some points which were not developed fully, otherwise I would have given the film 10/10.
I think there should have been more scenes which show the Christine's obsession. During the romantic scenes, it would also have made more sense for the older sister (Christine) to be more aggressive instead of the younger sister. The relationship between the sisters and their employer could also have been explored further. Even though the employer is portrayed as unkind and disdainful towards the sisters, I don't think it was enough to incite murder. The daughter in the family also doesn't have much effect on the plot, so I think she should have been given a bigger role, like maybe bullying Lea a bit or treating both sisters badly. Then the ending would have made more sense.
Also at the end of the film, after the murders, I think the sisters should make a run for it. I know the movie is based on the actual event, but because the sisters were not shown to be that crazy throughout the beginning and middle of the film, it would not make sense for them to hide in their room at the end.
Despite some shortcomings in plot, I still really enjoyed the film. The scenes of the two sisters are just really touching, and that alone is enough to make me recommend this film.
First, I must confess that I am a big fan of films about lesbians or films with lesbian themes. Though this film also contained incest, because it was between siblings I was not put off and found the incest element to make the film even more captivating. For me, the selling point of the film is the relationship between the two sisters, Christine and Lea. There are many beautiful scenes which show the closeness of the two sisters, and their affection and love for each other.
However, I felt the plot had some points which were not developed fully, otherwise I would have given the film 10/10.
I think there should have been more scenes which show the Christine's obsession. During the romantic scenes, it would also have made more sense for the older sister (Christine) to be more aggressive instead of the younger sister. The relationship between the sisters and their employer could also have been explored further. Even though the employer is portrayed as unkind and disdainful towards the sisters, I don't think it was enough to incite murder. The daughter in the family also doesn't have much effect on the plot, so I think she should have been given a bigger role, like maybe bullying Lea a bit or treating both sisters badly. Then the ending would have made more sense.
Also at the end of the film, after the murders, I think the sisters should make a run for it. I know the movie is based on the actual event, but because the sisters were not shown to be that crazy throughout the beginning and middle of the film, it would not make sense for them to hide in their room at the end.
Despite some shortcomings in plot, I still really enjoyed the film. The scenes of the two sisters are just really touching, and that alone is enough to make me recommend this film.
Great acting!
Sweetie-104 April 1999
I think that "Sister My Sister" is a very good film. But one of the most important things in this drama is the acting. Julie Walters and also Jodhi May play their roles very well. The best actress in "Sister My Sister" is Jodhi May. She is playing her role as the little sister Lea great, better than Julie Walters plays Mme Danzard. I give 8 out to 10 .
Incester
NoDakTatum21 October 2023
Based on a true story, this film has it all- incest, murder, and fine linens. Christine (Joely Richardson) brings her younger sister Lea (Jodhi May) into the Danzard household to work. Christine is the handmaid to Madame Danzard (Julie Walters) and her dowdy teenage daughter Isabelle (Sophie Thursfield). Menace hangs over the film thanks to an opening credits roll that shows us blood and gore on a staircase, but does not clue us in as to who exactly has been hurt or killed. There are certainly plenty of prospective victims among the quartet of actresses. Christine is a wonderful servant, and the Danzards are pleased with her work. They are even more pleased when Lea comes to work in the house as well, since they get two maids for the price of one. Lea and Christine share a bed in a small room upstairs, and have Sunday mornings and early afternoons off. They spend that time visiting an unseen mother, who dotes on Lea. Lea in turn hands over her half of the wages to Mom every week. Christine hates the woman, and takes that hatred out on her younger sister. Things seem to be going well, until some sisterly issues surface. Lea is obsessed with Christine, and Christine is obsessed with Lea. They grew up in a convent, explaining a certain repression on the ladies' part that takes their relationship from sisterhood to a taboo level. Meanwhile, Madame is desperate to marry off poor Isabelle, constantly braying and nagging her. She also notices the sisters' drop in household chore quality, and suspects the two are doing more in their room on Sundays besides praying. As Lea and Isabelle begin a semi-flirtatious, innocent relationship, Christine (who thinks of herself as hideous looking) goes off the deep end. The Danzards are so displeased with the sisters, they discuss the ladies' faults in front of them as if they were not there. The sisters promise to be together always, and the brutal finale reveals where the opening gore came from.
Meckler, filming a screenplay by Wendy Kesselman, has a wonderful attention to detail without crossing over into artsy territory. Following the drips of a water faucet as if it was Chinese water torture, the gory opening shot, the dark interiors of the house; she captures it all perfectly. Kesselman gives us totally mundane household chores to watch, but shows us what happens if the servants get even the tiniest detail wrong. The menace hanging over the film is effective, although a snip here and there might have moved the pace a bit. It is slow but fascinating in the same respect as "Remains of the Day." The cast is incredible. Walters is not a mean mistress of the house, she just demands what 1932 French small town society expects from her. Thursfield is also great as a gawky teen, sneaking chocolates and fascinated with the servant sisters. Richardson is excellent, not going obsessive insane immediately, but easing her character, and the audience, into it. May is fantastic as the seemingly helpless Lea, who relies too much on her sister without coming off as shrill or annoying. The film makers also handle the disturbing sexual scenes well. There are no backlit love scenes played to orchestral strings. The sisters know what they are doing is wrong, but they cannot seem to help themselves. I do not mean this from a sexual point of view, but from an obsessive one. They seem just as awkward with each other as the audience is with their acts. "Sister My Sister" is an underrated film that deserves more viewers than its softcore-looking video box cover was trying to get. It is disturbing, suspenseful, and not easy to forget.
Meckler, filming a screenplay by Wendy Kesselman, has a wonderful attention to detail without crossing over into artsy territory. Following the drips of a water faucet as if it was Chinese water torture, the gory opening shot, the dark interiors of the house; she captures it all perfectly. Kesselman gives us totally mundane household chores to watch, but shows us what happens if the servants get even the tiniest detail wrong. The menace hanging over the film is effective, although a snip here and there might have moved the pace a bit. It is slow but fascinating in the same respect as "Remains of the Day." The cast is incredible. Walters is not a mean mistress of the house, she just demands what 1932 French small town society expects from her. Thursfield is also great as a gawky teen, sneaking chocolates and fascinated with the servant sisters. Richardson is excellent, not going obsessive insane immediately, but easing her character, and the audience, into it. May is fantastic as the seemingly helpless Lea, who relies too much on her sister without coming off as shrill or annoying. The film makers also handle the disturbing sexual scenes well. There are no backlit love scenes played to orchestral strings. The sisters know what they are doing is wrong, but they cannot seem to help themselves. I do not mean this from a sexual point of view, but from an obsessive one. They seem just as awkward with each other as the audience is with their acts. "Sister My Sister" is an underrated film that deserves more viewers than its softcore-looking video box cover was trying to get. It is disturbing, suspenseful, and not easy to forget.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
