The Maids

The Maids is a two-woman show that looks like a live performance. It was part of a series of films adapting stage shows to the big screen, so the intent is implant audiences in the front row of the theater. It's not flashy and it doesn't do anything to make itself any less "stage-y". If that type of movie doesn't appeal to you, then you'll probably tear your hair out after five minutes.

Many theater fans adore Glenda Jackson's style, but it is very distinctive, so if again, if you don't like it in the beginning, you won't like the rest of it. She and her costar, Susannah York, played their parts on stage, which explains their masterful timing and very rehearsed delivery. The story is pretty dark and convoluted: two maids hate their employer, so when she's out on the town, they take turns dressing up in her clothes and harassing the other. They also act out little revenge schemes which they can never fulfil in real life.

Personally, I found it much to play-ish and peculiar to be enjoyable. If you actually end up liking this one, you can try any number of live productions Glenda Jackson filmed or another dark, strange drama with Susannah York: The Killing of Sister George.

Jean Genet is a genius storyteller who pulls us in from the beginning, the way the characters play off of one another is brilliant, wonderful acting to boot. Don't miss it!

Based on Jean Genet's play Solange (Glenda Jackson) and Claire (Susanna York) plays sisters who as maids in a luxuriant Paris apartment, dress up when Madame is away and act out strange, sadomasochistic scenes where Madame is ridiculed even murdered.

Made as a part of the American Film Theatre season, this is by nature a very stage bound film, set pretty much exclusively in the Parisian apartment. The attraction for seeing this, assuming you aren't necessarily acquainted with Genet's somewhat absurdist play is watching the 2 great actresses having a great time spouting out Genet's exhuberant, colourful dialogue. Other than that is a strange little chamber piece loaded up with gallons of hidden meaning that I obviously missed.

I first saw 'The Maids' on PBS in the early 1980s, and loved it. The American Film Series was briefly available in Betamax format, but has long been unavailable. Now the series has been released on VHS and DVD, and I am delighted.

At the time I was unfamiliar with the play; this film served as an introduction to Genet's work, and further to the so-called 'Theatre of the Absurd.' Glenda Jackson and Susannah York give absolutely incredible performances as Solange and Claire, the title characters, who take turns dressing as their mistress (played by Vivien Merchant), and abusing each other in a parody of the master/slave relationship. It is difficult to recapitulate the plot in the space provided. Being faithful to the source text, the film is very wordy, and with a lesser cast and director would probably be unwatchable, but if you like full-throttle acting by three of the twentieth century's best actresses, and don't need an edit every four seconds, this is worth your time.

Whether one enjoys 'The Maids' is perhaps dependent on whether you're familiar with Jean Genet's play and what if familiar your thoughts on it are. Personally think that the play is an interesting one for its atmosphere and characterisation, but am never going to see it as one of my favourites. It is one of those plays that is going to divide people. The cast also drew me into seeing 'The Maids', having liked Susannah York and especially Glenda Jackson (loved in her case) in other things.

Despite the rating as of now here indicating otherwise, to me 'The Maids' is actually one of the better entries in the uneven American Film Theatre series. It is not my definition of a masterpiece by any stretch and like most films in the series one can tell that it is adapted from stage. But the cast are as good as one can get and the atmosphere is handled very well and faithfully. So yeah it is recommended, while not considering it a must see.

As was just said, 'The Maids' can feel somewhat stagebound. Evident in moments of dull pacing, an at times too confined setting and not always feeling opened up enough.

Especially early on. The dialogue rambles at times.

Like all the other films in the series, the best component is the acting. Jackson and York go at their roles full throttle and give hair-raising performances. Particularly Jackson. Their chemistry is dynamite, essential in making an adaptation of 'The Maids' work. One also mustn't overlook Vivien Merchant, anybody who loved her performance in 'The Homecoming' (speaking as one of those people) earlier in the series will love her formidable yet nuanced performance here.

The film is atmospherically shot and generally the setting is alive in colour and atmosphere. The score is suitably haunting without being melodramatic. The dialogue has its fair share of chills and tension, unashamedly melodramatic but it works within the story. Despite staginess, 'The Maids' nails the mood of the play, something 'Three Sisters' for example (another example of a mood driven play) struggled to do so. The character writing for the three leads is as rich and hard hittinh as ought.

Overall, well done and deserving of more credit. 7/10.