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Solange
and Claire are two maids who hate their employers. Whilst
they are out they dress up as Madame and insult her. Part
of the 'American Film Theatre' in which plays were filmed
and then shown in theatres for two days and nights...
The
Maids is based on Jena Genet's surreal and illusory world,
dealing unsentimentally with society's outcasts. Genet's play
was itself based roughly on the Papin sisters - real life
murderous maids from the 1930's.
Glenda
Jackson is at her finest in the role of the sneering Solange,
while Susannah York exudes dark sexuality and malevolence
as Claire.
Both are maids working for Madame (Vivien
Merchant) and
play-acting out their fantasies when their employer is away
from home. These bizarre sessions reveal dark desires, skewed
sexual and class politics as well as dementia and murderous
intent.
While
I'm not a huge fan of theatre to movie conversion - the two
genres are so dissimilar, I always think it is like a TV producer
staging his productions as though they were radio plays. More
often than not the end result is dull and rather stagnant.
However, I rather liked this production. Being set entirely
within one room, this gave the whole movie a very claustrophobic
feel.
There
is something instantly appealing about this play/movie. Sexually
provocative, dark and twisted you can't help feel for both
maids - despite their total lack of respect (bordering on
psychopathic hated) for the hand that feeds.
Extras
on this release include a very entertaining with Susannah
York and a revealing one from Edie Landau (The American Film
Theatre's Executive in Charge); trailer gallery; cinebill
for The Maids; stills gallery; poster article: Jean
Genet and The Maids by Michael Feingold.
Made
me totally rethink my attitude to the screening of movies
as though they were plays. Entertaining.
Amber
Leigh
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