Prisonnières (1988)

Prisonnières is a French crime film first released in 1988, directed by Charlotte Silvera.  The film stars Marie-Christine Barrault, Annie Girardot, Bernadette Lafont, Milva and Agnès Soral.  It has also been released under the title: Women in Prison.  Our overall rating for this film is: very poor.


A new batch of female convicts arrive in an austere women’s prison.  These include Nicole, who murdered her own child, and who is forced to in solitary confinement for her own safety.  Other women at the prison have their own problems.  Nelly, who is studying for a degree, becomes the victim of malicious plot involving drugs, whilst another woman, Marthe, is victimised because of her privileged relationship with the prison’s governor, Madame Dessombes.

This plodding film is marred by its pretensions and lumbering narrative style. The high calibre cast are ill-served by a mediocre script and some uninspired direction. The film conveys the hardship of prison life, but lacks emotional engagement with its subject.

© James Travers 2000

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