''Murderous Maids'' (french: Les blessures assassines) is a

French film French cinema consists of the film industry and its film productions, whether made within the nation of France or by French film production companies abroad. It is the oldest and largest precursor of national cinemas in Europe; with primary influ ...

directed by

Jean-Pierre Denis Jean-Pierre Denis (born 29 March 1946) is a French film director and screenwriter. He has directed seven films since 1980. His directorial debut '' Adrien's Story'' won the Caméra d'Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival The 33rd Cannes Film Fe ...

, released in 2000, which tells the true story of two French maids,

Christine and Lea Papin Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...

. The screenplay by Jean-Pierre Denis with Michèle Pétin, was based on the book '' L'affaire Papin'' by Paulette Houdyer. It told the story of the double murder committed by the maids, which made sensational headlines in France in 1933. The film had 360,846 admissions in France.

Plot

Christine Papin (

Sylvie Testud Sylvie Testud (born 17 January 1971) is a French actress hose film career est Actress for '' Fear and Trembling'' (2003), and the European Film Award for Best Actress for '' Lourdes'' (2009). Her other film roles include '' Beyond Silence'' ( ...

), and Léa Papin (Julie-Marie Parmentier) are sisters with a troubled past, who work as maids in Le Mans, France. After a string of domestic jobs, they start working for the Lancelin family, which consists of Monsieur Lancelin, his wife and their adult daughter Genevieve. Christine sees in Madame Lancelin a mother figure, in spite of her severity. But their wretched background — an indifferent mother, a drunken, abusive father and time spent in orphanages — casts a shadow over the girls. Over time, their ill-fated situation darkens and they withdraw into themselves. Finally, after six years of service, they end up committing a particularly brutal crime on February 2, 1933: killing Madame Lancelin and her daughter after gouging their eyes out.

Cast

as Christine Papin * Julie-Marie Parmentier as Léa Papin *

Isabelle Renauld Isabelle Renauld (; born 24 November 1966 in Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine) is a French actress. She trained at the Nanterre Amandiers theatre school directed by Patrice Chéreau from 1985 to 1987. She was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and ...

as Clémence *

François Levantal François Levantal (born 14 October 1960) is a French actor. He has appeared in more than one hundred films since 1986. Filmography Theater Music videos External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Levantal, Francois 1960 births Living people F ...

as Le Gazé * Dominique Labourier as Madame Lancelin * Jean-Gabriel Nordmann as M. Lancelin * Marie Donnio as Geneviève Lancelin *

Michaël Abiteboul Michaël Abiteboul is a French actor. Filmography Theatre References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abiteboul, Michael French male film actors Living people 21st-century French male actors Year of birth missing (living peop ...

as Etienne * Nadia Barentin as La mère supérieure

Awards and nominations

won the

César Award for Most Promising Actress The César Award for Most Promising Actress (french: César du meilleur espoir féminin) is one of the César Awards, presented annually by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma to recognize the outstanding breakthrough performance of a ...

in 2001 for her performance as Christine Papin. The film was nominated for the César for best film, and Jean-Pierre Denis for best director.

References

External links

* 2000 films 2000s French-language films 2000 crime drama films Films directed by Jean-Pierre Denis Maids in films StudioCanal films French crime drama films Films set in 1933 2000s French films {{2000s-France-film-stub