Ladies Room (1999)
In an ethereal, high-ceilinged room, women stand, waiting. Perhaps it's Purgatory and they're dead. In the room, two young women, one an actress and the other a psychologist, watch the last few days of their lives on a TV screen. Both are having affairs with married men, each has a long encounter with her lover's wife, and both these scenes take place in a ladies' room, one backstage at a play that's about to preview, the other at an opera house during the first act. The relationships between each pair of younger and older women take surprising turns, and in the room with the TV, a sylph asks probing and challenging questions of the two young women as they watch.
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Reviews
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
I agree with the above review...truly dreadful.This film wastes good actors like Greta Scacchi and Lorraine Bracco and even Mr Malcovich with a dreadful accent and playing his usual character doesn't help anything. The problem is that it starts so badly and the good parts come too late. The idea of mistresses meeting the wives of the men they are seeing in ladies toilets is a great one, and full of potency. However the director's use of theatrical devices reminds me of a 3rd year drama student's end of year performance. To further compound the comparison, they add a dash of lipstick lesbianism and there is even a large glass bowl of Ferrero Roche chocolates which are supposed to be a classy addition I suspect. This film is just like an extended version of the Ambassadors ball.
When I saw this DVD in the "special offer" bin at a local book store (for only 2 Euros) I was surprised I had never heard of it before. When I watched it, it became clear why you never see any reference to it.The reason I bought it was exclusively because of the cast. Just look at it; this can't be a bad movie, can it? Yes, it can. The actors do their trick and they do it well, but there doesn't seem to be much coherence. The story is rather confusing and not because it is so complicated (which it isn't) but simply because you never know what the story is actually about. Don't get me wrong; telling a story with different story lines can be very interesting, but this is definitely no 'Magnolia'. The various elements just don't seem to come together. I have the feeling that this is some kind of private project, for and by friends only, not really meant to reach a large audience.My advice: if you're a fan of one of the actors (Malkovich is great as always), get to see it if you get a chance, but don't spend too much money on it.
While the film is most definitely not what the video cover would suggest (a farce), it does turn out to be a wonderful surreal comedy, with (gasp!) a point to the story. I understand why some may be to say the least disappointed however, I found it to be very entertaining art piece, which is not easily done. Recommended for viewers who enjoy something a bit off (not in a screwball way, but in an artistic way). Those who are looking for a good classic farce (and I love a good farce) are better off with "Clue" or "Noises Off", two of my personal favorites.
After renting this movie, my wife and I were a little disappointed at the first. The movie was very slow to start and did not really get funny until the scene at the Opera House. The Bathroom scene was very funny. I'm not sure I would recommend the movie to others, but we certainly enjoyed it once it got moving. I would love to know who the lady was that was singing in the background music at the opera house. The credits were a little blurry and we could not really make out the name other than, Anna Liani. We would love to get some music by this very talented singer. Not sure if we have the name right, so if anyone knows her real name, please pass it along to us. :)Phil Franklin Las Vegas, NV. 3/22/2000