The Maids (film)
| The Maids | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Christopher Miles |
| Produced by |
Robert Enders Ely Landau |
| Written by | Robert Enders Christopher Miles Jean Genet (play) |
| Starring |
Glenda Jackson Susannah York Vivien Merchant |
| Music by | Laurie Johnson |
| Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe |
| Distributed by | American Film Theatre |
|
Release date
|
April 21, 1975 (US) |
|
Running time
|
95 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Maids (French: Les Bonnes) is a 1975 British film that was directed by Christopher Miles. It is based on the play of the same title by the French dramatist Jean Genet. The film stars Glenda Jackson as Solange, Susannah York as Claire, Vivien Merchant as Madame, and Mark Burns as Monsieur.
Solange and Claire are two housemaids who construct elaborate sadomasochistic rituals when their mistress (Madame) is away. The focus of their role-playing is the murder of Madame, and they take turns portraying either side of the power divide. The deliberate pace and devotion to detail guarantees that they always fail to actualize their fantasies by ceremoniously "killing" Madame at the ritual's denouement.
Before it was filmed for the American Film Theatre, it ran as a stage play at the Greenwich Theatre, London, with the same principal cast later used for the film version. The director, Christopher Miles planned the 12-day shoot with a single camera which could track anywhere over the set with the cinematographer Douglas Slocombe and deliberately implemented many of Genet's theatrical devices for the film. The camera was often static, the settings lush and extravagant.
The film was shown at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition.
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