The Public Woman

1984 1h 53m FR

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 64

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short time she is unable to draw the line between acting and reality. She winds up playing a real-life role posing as the dead wife of another Czech immigrant, who is manipulated by the filmmaker into commiting a political assassination.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Valérie Kaprisky
Ethel
Francis Huster
Lucas Kessling
Lambert Wilson
Milan Mliska
Patrick Bauchau
Ethel's Father
Gisèle Pascal
Gertrude
Roger Dumas
André
Diane Delor
Elena Mliska
Jean-Paul Farré
Pierre

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrzej Żuławski
Writers: Dominique Garnier, Andrzej Żuławski
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

42 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrzej Żuławski, shot by Sacha Vierny. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alain Wisniak. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Marie-Sophie Dubus shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Valérie Kaprisky and Francis Huster and Lambert Wilson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0087250 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 64 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrzej Żuławski directs. Sacha Vierny behind the camera. Alain Wisniak scores. Marie-Sophie Dubus cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

142 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Andrzej Żuławski, shot by Sacha Vierny. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Alain Wisniak. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Marie-Sophie Dubus shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Valérie Kaprisky and Francis Huster and Lambert Wilson carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0087250 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 64 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.