The Women on the 6th Floor is the heart-warming upstairs downstairs comedy smash by director Philippe Le Guay. In Paris it screened for 6 months and received over 2.3 million admissions. If that’s not enough …
In Berlin it received a standing ovation at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival. Moving to Los Angeles it was the recipient of the Audience Award at the City of Lights film festival. Lastly in Australia it was the highest performing fim in the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival.
In Berlin it received a standing ovation at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival. Moving to Los Angeles it was the recipient of the Audience Award at the City of Lights film festival. Lastly in Australia it was the highest performing fim in the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival.Set in Paris in 1962, the family (father, mother and two boys) reside downstairs in richly wallpapered rooms. The intricate décor providing colour to their soulless existence, where the boys have been sent off to boarding school, and the socialite mother (Sandrine Kiberlain) crams her days with beauty treatments and social engagements.
After their long serving maid leaves, the father, wealthy stockbroker Jean-Louis Jouvert (Fabrice Luchini), does the unthinkable and hires Maria (Natalia Verbeke), a Spanish maid.
From the moment she produces the perfect soft boiled egg, lives are turned upside down. A dinner engagement with the women upstairs uncovers questionable plumbing, and grey walls that ooze with the love and laughter lacking downstairs.
The movie is an easy, feel good ride that offers many giggles. In the end it left me pondering … that trinkets can never warm the heart like love, friendship and family – a good message as we sink into the silly season.
For those of you in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Palace Films is bringing Phillipe Le Guay out for Q&A sessions during December 5th to 11th, before it’s national release on December 15th.
