THE
MIDWIFE by Carol Kaufman Segal
The
Midwife is a French film written and directed by Martin
Provost starring two highly skilled French actresses, Catherine Deneuve and
Catherine Frot. Provost wrote the film
for these two very well-known actresses, and the film marks the first time that
they appear together on screen.
Claire (Catherine Frot) is a demure woman who works in a
maternity clinic as a midwife, but will soon be losing her position. Because the small clinic is unable to compete
with a nearby hospital, it is due to close imminently. Beatrice (Catherine Deneuve), is an exact opposite
of Claire, an undisciplined woman who lives a fast life. Even though Claire and Beatrice are exact
opposites, after years apart, they discover their need for each other.
Beatrice, a flamboyant woman, was the mistress of Claire’s
late father. Claire was a young girl
when Beatrice left them, leaving her father shattered. She suddenly appears back in Claire’s life in
need of help because doctors have diagnosed her with a brain tumor. Claire
wants no part of Beatrice, blaming her father’s suicide on her abandonment. 
Even though she has been diagnosed with brain cancer, Beatrice
cannot change her lifestyle. She continues
to gamble, smoke, eat all of the wrong foods (nothing like the staid Claire) while
asking for help. When she no longer has
anywhere to turn, Claire, in her usual characteristic manner, is there to support
her. Before long, Claire finds her need
for Beatrice as well, to fill the void of her being able to give aid to others
and finding a mother she never had.
The Midwife is
playing at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles. Running time is 117 minutes with English
subtitles.
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