What It's About:

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. When high-society Hélène (Casares) recognizes that her lover Jean (Bernard) has become bored, she suggests they become just friends. Then she plots revenge. First she ensnares friends Madame D (Bogaert) and her stunning daughter Agnes (Labourdette) by providing financial support, freeing the otherwise virtuous Agnes from having to work as a barroom dancer and escort. When Hélène conspires to get Jean to fall in love with Agnes (which is not difficult), the two innocents seem helpless against Helene’s plan to shame Jean by exposing Agnes’s sordid past. In this twisted scenario, is there any hope for redemption?

Why I Love It:

The second film from legendary director Robert Bresson, “Les Dames” is a diabolically clever morality play tracing the cruelty and ruthlessness of one upper-class woman. Written by the renowned director Jean Cocteau from a story by Denis Diderot, the script positively crackles with biting wit and understatement. Bernard convincingly runs the gamut of emotions from ecstasy to despair in the thankless role of lovesick fool, while Casares makes your blood run cold as the scheming Helene. Meanwhile it’s difficult to take your eyes off the luminous Labourdette long enough to read the subtitles! Don’t hesitate to make a date with these memorable dames.