Murderous Maids [DVD]

It's been 8 yrs since I discovered and watched this DVD.... it will grab u , for sure, unless one prefers "murder she wrote" type entertainment. It's true, its jaw dropping, it's never written about enough! Come on true crime authors, BBC people, someone update this story to a documentary or masterpiece series, so the average viewer is not subjected to never ending super hero, lucifer helping cops, big busted pathologists who solve all crimes tv shows- come on!

Based on a true story about two sisters (Papin sisters) who have an incestuous relationship and participate in a brutal murder of their employers. The 2002 French film begins with the girls of young age in a convent. Within the first 30/40 minutes, while the girls are young, it is confusing to know who is who, and what is going on. So, pay attention closely.Fast forward to young adulthood, and the picture becomes more clear the older girl, Christine and a younger one called Lea.Up front, we learn of family issues, particularly with the mother. Jump to mother who has a new husband who makes a pass to the younger Lea. Another issue is that Mother has a new husband, and it seems the usual creepy stuff has gone on. There isn't a lot of information on the past as it moves quickly.These supporting characters play minor roles, as the focus moves on to the young sisters and their jobs as maids as they eventually end up working in the same household, where they have an incestuous relationship and participate in a gruesome murder of two people in the home.I was not exactly mesmerized by the film, more confused at the beginning. Not sure what was missing, but I give it an ok.The role of Christine is played by Sylvie Testud, and her appearance fits the character, her acting is great as her face often reveals the that look on her face, always mysterious, twisted, haunted, and downright evil when the time comes. The setting with the 30s period furniture is remarkable, impressive to that era in France. The movie demonstrates the social class differences. ..... Rizzo

"Murderous Maids" is the second film I've seen about France's Papin sisters, two domestics who, in the early 1930's, savagely murdered their employer and her daughter. Slightly superior to "Sister, My Sister", Britain's Papin film, "Murderous Maids", based on the book "L'affaire Papin", not only possesses a greater degree of psychological sophistication, but is more historically accurate. That being said, "Murderous Maids" (or, more correctly, "Les Blessures Assassines") more or less winds up being a showcase for the sublime performance given by Sylvie Testud, who, despite no physical resemblance, brings us as close as I believe is humanly possible to touching the strange entity that was Christine Papin--and it's about as close as most people would want to get. Julie-Marie Parmentier as co-star is dutifully overshadowed, much as her character Lea lived in the shadow of her older sister Christine in actual life. Their love scenes are both sweet and sexy, which makes for an intriguing juxtaposition to the off-putting gruesomeness of the murders. While these women (particularly Christine) felt victimized by their lowly social status, their chaotic family romance (manipulative, self-absorbed mother; absent father) played a parallel role in determining their (and their employer's) unfortunate fate.

As one reviewer said below, this is one movie you only need to see once...and once is enough! I don't know why I was able to stomach "Sister My Sister"--another movie based on the same events--and not this one.

A very effective treatment of a true event. Very well acted. One definitely feels...well sympathy...for the dominant sister, despite her terrible behavior and crime.

Fantastic and great movie. Provided more details about the sister's relationship.

Muderous is a slow movie in the begining as it shows the Christine and Lea. After waiting almost an hour, the movie give you a punch in the murder scene. It's as violent as any Hollywood movie. I would have liked some more extras on the DVD.

This is the true story of the Papin sisters, Christine and Lea, who were convicted in the 1930's of one of France's most notorious crimes. "Murderous Maids" chronicles their lives and the commitment of that crime: the brutal slaying of their employer and her daughter.Both girls are raised by nuns and on finishing school, their mother sells them into servitude. Christine, the elder sister, is fiercely protective of Lea, becoming more of a mother to Lea than their actual mother. In time, Christine arranges for Lea's employment in the same household and eventually they develop an obsessive, incestuous Lesbian relationship.Christine's world is rocked in childhood: she is shattered by the realization that her beloved alcoholic father raped her elder sister--a sister who resolved her own demons by becoming a nun. As Christine matures, she becomes brittle, tightly wound and mentally unstable: her whole life totally focused on her sister. Lea, a much weaker character, willingly clings to Christine, almost as if Christine is the leader of their private cult. It is a deeply disturbing portrayal and very well acted.

Sinister, scary, wonderfully paced. I cannot recommend this movie enough and gives the best rendition of the horrifying crime perpetrated by the Papin sisters.