Steineded How sad is this?

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Q. Reyes En route to a party, Paul (Vincent Lindon) and Helene (Catherine Frot) encounter a speed bump when a woman throws herself in front of their car, begging for help. Having learnt not to pick up hitchhikers, they watch helplessly as she is beaten unconscious by several men.Helene feels responsible for this stranger, whom she comes to know as Noemie, and spends much time with her at the hospital. But when she discovers that Noemie's life may be in danger, Helene sneaks her out of the hospital posing as a nurse.Taking her to her mother-in-law's country home to recover, she learns of Noemie's tragic story. Brought to France from Algeria by her father, she chooses a life of prostitution after her dad sold her down the river to an Algerian man.This movie tells me how prostitution works in France and its similarities in the prostitution that's been happening in our country.This is a funny and fast-paced movie. I would have enjoyed it more if I can only understand the French language.

Ruby Liang (ruby_fff) From New Yorker Films and prolific French producer Alain Sarde, writer-director Coline Serreau's 2001 French film "Chaos" is very much a woman's adventure. The storyline is from the women's perspective, main action performances (and slapsticks) by women. Story revolves around 4 women - a mother in law (Line Renaud is quiet Mamie aptly cast), a sister (Hajar Nouma is naïve Zora unaware) are supporting roles to the two central gutsy characters: Hélène (neat and deftly portrayed by Catherine Frot) and Noémie/Malika (brilliant and forcefully played by Rachida Brakni). The serious & comical, patient & impetuous interactions between Hélène and Noémie sure kept the tight yet fun suspense drama going, with bemusing (and thoughtful) 'comments' on men - the husband ( the ill at ease egocentric Paul played with such facility by Vincent Lindon of Clair Denis' "Friday Night" 2001), the son (the callous immature Frabrice played by Aurélien Wiik), heartless fathers, boorish brothers, brutal gangsters and nasty pimps. The film is no lightweight fare. It's a heartfelt reflection on women's place in society in similar situation/environment as the four women depicted in "Chaos" - and there's hope for tenacious bonding relationships to blossom and grown. The ending sight is serene and peaceful to behold, full of heart.There are social commentaries sprinkled through out the film, be it obvious or subtle. Following the two women made us care about what will happen next: how will Hélène get pass/deal with the hoodlums, will Malika wake up, how can she fight the thugs in a wheelchair, is Paul really such a wimp and a jerk, do we treat our mothers like that - such observant perceptions Serreau included. With the war situation, we are more aware of the fragility of life and how death can occur without warning. Like Yin & Yang, life & death are inseparable forces. What happens brought the two together, changing each other's course of life. 'tis death to the 'former' way of life and began anew their ventures, helping each other to attain the 'peace' they somehow individually needed. Esoteric this may sound, the dramatic plot of "Chaos" is entertaining assured. The hospital bedside scene reminded me of Erick Zonca's "The Dreamlife of Angels" aka "La Vie rêvée des anges" 1998 - another worthwhile dramatic French film. Both films are available on DVD. Colin Serreau wrote and directed "Three Men and A Cradle" in 1985 aka "Trois hommes et un couffin" with U.S. remake as "Three Men and A Baby" in 1987.

nini_ten To say that this movie is a feminist movie wouldn't be fair, because even though only the women in the film are triumphs, whether it's a female or male character they're all honestly wrote. This movie could've been more of a strict screwball bourgouis comedy if it weren't for the character Noemie. I think the movie brilliantly creates 2 kinds of tones coming from 2 different modern female oppresions, one is the female oppressed by the world most of us are more familiar with, enslaved in her family and chores, the other is the female oppresed by lowest depths of tragedy, enslaved in prostitution and old Algerian society. It doesn't leave out neither of their stories. Combined, the movie becomes an exuberant and hilarious revenge story with uncompromising edge, providing also a constant study of values in modern life. But most of all it's a very juicy plot, a lot of suspense and comedy going on, and it's nice that all the supporting roles have a real and entertaining place in the story too. the result is very thrilling, it can make a woman righteously feel less serious about romance, because it seems to provide a lot factual observations towards man/woman relationships, for example Noemies key tactic in making a man insanely in love with her is by being unattainable, and that seems to work the other way around for men too like Fabrice, at least in the beginning. The fact is, in the movie, romantic love seems a little lame, a little silly, yet they all ring true, which is I think the most triumphant achievement for writer/director Coline Serreau. I think this movie even transcends screwball comedies, particularly the Depardieu or Auteuil ones, whereas those are only charming and satirically not interesting enough, this movie really makes you care and cheer with it, rather than grin and think it's cute. Overall this movie is really fantastic, I can understand why Meryl Streep wants to play the main character, the choice seems to match her kind of ambition and attitude and I hope Coline Serreau can pull the Hollywood one off well too.

George Parker "Chaos" is a subtitled French flick about a middle aged couple who make no effort to help a street hooker who is being beaten by three men. As this dramedy unfolds, the wife finds the hooker in the hospital, helps nurse her back to health, and thus begins a long relationship which carriers them into a variety of situations including revenge wreaked upon a pimp, some payback for to the bad Samaritan husband, the rescue of an Algerian girl who is about to be sold into marriage, etc. The film is a technically good effort. However, the comedic and dramatic components don't work together but rather work against each other diluting their efficacy and rendering the film a matter of curiosity rather than a vehicle for entertainment. Pass on this one unless you have a taste for clumsy feminist subtitled black comedy. (B-)