rafial

I saw this film at this years Seattle International Film Festival, and other than the bizarre choice of "Female Agents" as the English title, I loved it. I think a more direct translation of the title as "Women of the Shadows" or some such would have been much more evocative.

The film itself is a gritty WWII espionage drama in the classic mold, with the team of misfits being assembled to do the job that only they can do. Only in this case, they are women. The film does not shrink from the grittiness and danger of the mission, especially when it extends to several gutwrenching interrogation scenes. There is no chivalry in this war. Moritz Bleibtreu is especially effective as an SS Colonel who believes himself to be a decent man, doing only what he must, yet in reality committing atrocity after atrocity.

Special effects are well used to give us occupied Paris in great detail, and the whole look of the film is quite stylish. A recommended film!

I remember the relentless media drumbeat in the US when this happened, about how Chavez was destroying the country, and using the army to repress dissent, etc, etc. Amazingly, a pair of Irish filmmakers were on hand and were able to film key moments. An amazing story of how the people in the street were able to take back their democracy, with surprisingly little loss of life, even when it was taken from them by force. Very inspiring!