The Woman Who Powders Herself

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The Woman Who Powders Herself
A still from The Woman Who Powders Herself.png
A still from the film depicting a sphinx in a barren wasteland
French La Femme qui se poudre
Directed by Patrick Bokanowski
Written byPatrick Bokanowski
Produced byPatrick Bokanowski
Starring
  • Claus-Dieter Reents
  • Jean-Jacques Choul
  • Nadine Roussial
  • Jacques Delbosc d'Auzon
CinematographyDaniel Bard
Edited by
  • Patrick Bokanowski
  • Renée Richard
Music by Michèle Bokanowski
Production
company
Kira B.M. Films
Release date
  • 1972 (1972)
Running time
18 minutes
Country France
LanguageFrench

The Woman Who Powders Herself (French: La Femme qui se poudre) is a 1972 French black-and-white experimental horror short film written, produced, and directed by Patrick Bokanowski. The short film, which contains no dialogue, follows a cast of masked figures (similar to those of Bokanowski's later 1982 feature film L'Ange) engaging in a series of outlandish acts. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

A group of uncanny figures wearing crude, disfigured masks are portrayed occupying themselves with a variety of unconnected tasks, set to an unsettling film score. One of the figures is seen removing pieces of cloth from a well whilst a scarecrow mocks them. Another—the titular character—applies makeup to her "face" as she prepares to go out with an accompanying figure. A figure exits their house and wanders a vast wasteland as an arabesque song plays, encountering an ancient Egyptian style sphinx statue. Two figures accompany each other, one lying on their deathbed. A physical altercation occurs between a gathering of figures at a dinner table.

Film print

The short film's original 35 mm print was purchased by the Centre Pompidou in 1993, and is currently stored in Level 4 of its Musée National d'Art Moderne. [2]

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References

  1. Coulthart, John (May 13, 2013). "La Femme qui se poudre". johncoulthart.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. "La Femme qui se poudre". Centre Pompidou. September 25, 2024. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2024.