Tuesday, July 25, 2017

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 film is heart-warming and exceptionally well-told.  The scenes, with Claire bringing newborns into the world, are fascinating.  As I watched those scenes of Claire at work, I wondered how they could have appeared so authentic until I discovered that they were authentic.  They were filmed of real life births in a maternity ward.
            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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