Women in Turmoil

They say that behind every man's success is a woman. And my favorite Beatle, John Lennon, once sang: "And woman I will try to express. My inner feelings and thankfulness. For showing me the meaning of success..."

Whether she's a mother, a sister, a wife, a lover, or a friend, a woman is truly an inspiration to a man. But what will happen if a man's inspiration suddenly finds herself battling her inner demon? Will the man still love her? (Just wondering.)

There are many depictions of women in turmoil; but few I found really outstanding. Here they are:



Ingrid Thulin, Cries and Whispers

Most Beautiful Actresses of All Time... so far (2010 Revised Edition)

"There are no ugly people, only strange beauties."

- Anonymous

Beauty is omnipresent and perpetual. It is everywhere if you just open your eyes to it. Beauty is for everyone. All of us can be beautiful in our own distinctive ways. That's why I believe that there's no such thing as ugly people. What makes a person so different to label another person "ugly?"

Beauty is also present in cinema. Beauty is indeed ubiquitous. There are many beautiful film actresses out there. IMHO, here are some of the actresses whose beauty is just... captivating.

(In alphabetical order.)



1. Isabelle Adjani




Born: Isabelle Yasmine Adjani
Birthdate: June 27, 1955 in Paris, France

Fave Movie Quotes: My Favorite Season

"Where is the friend I seek? My longing rises with the sun.
Night fades, in vain I call his name.
I see his traces, I know he is there.
I feel him where the flowers sweeten the air.
Where saplings sprout, and wheat thrives.
He is the breeze that caresses me.
The scent for which I long.
I hear his voice blend into the summer's song."

- Emilie, quoting lines from a song

Starring Catherine Deneuve

With more than 100 films and counting, Catherine Deneuve is a name synonymous with French cinema. Deneuve has that enigmatic charm, a kind of actress you have to dig deeper in order to appreciate her performance. A subtle actress? Yes. A dull actress? No. I actually think that Deneuve has an adequate emotional range. Her characters are usually profound.

As a birthday tribute to a living legend, allow me to present to you my top five — with two at number five — favorite performances by the beautiful Catherine Deneuve. So far, here they are.

1. My Favorite Season (1993)

I'm Still Hungry

Tagline: Nothing human loves forever.

THE HUNGER
Tony Scott, 1983

Plot: Just another sexy vampire movie about this sexy vampire who looks like Catherine Deneuve. The sexy vampire seduces a sexy guy who looks like David Bowie. Later on the sexy vampire seduces a sexy woman who looks like Susan Sarandon. It's quite a sexy movie with lots of vampires. Rawr! :P

Behind the Curtains

Tagline: A story of love and conflict.

THE LAST METRO
François Truffaut, 1980

Celebrated French film director François Truffaut treats audiences with The Last Metro, a mixture of romance, drama, comedy, and historical tragedy.

Set in Nazi-occupied France (northern part) during World War II, The Last Metro takes us behind the scenes, or should I say, behind the curtains of one of Paris' favorite theaters, the Montmartre Theatre. The theater's Jewish director, Lucas Steiner (Heinz Bennent), is said to have fled from France to South America in order to avoid capture by the French people connected with the Nazis. Little do most people know that Steiner's wife, actress Marion Steiner (Catherine Deneuve), is hiding him at the theater's cellar.

My Top Five Roman Polanski Films

"Notorious, French-Born, Polish-Educated Successor to Alfred Hitchcock" is how Filmsite describes Roman Polanski.

The following are my five favorite films by Polanski:


1. Chinatown (1974)

Starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston.

Plot: Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a private detective who seems to specialize in matrimonial cases. He is hired by Evelyn Mulwray when she suspects her husband Hollis Mulwray, builder of the Los Angeles' water supply system, of having an affair. Gittes does what he does best and photographs him with a young girl but in the ensuing scandal, it seems he was hired by an impersonator and not the real Mrs. Mulwray. When Hollis is found dead, Jake is plunged into a complex web of deceit involving murder, incest, and municipal corruption all related to the city's water supply.

You'll Never Know What's in The Package Until You Open It

Tagline: Luis Bunuel's Masterpiece of Erotica!

BELLE DE JOUR
Luis Buñuel, 1967

This film was probably daring during its time. It's not afraid to be spontaneous with the plot execution. Directed by celebrated Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, Belle de jour tells the story of Severine Serizy, a young married woman who enlists in the employ of a whorehouse, without the knowledge of her husband, Pierre (Jean Sorel). Severine obtains the name "Belle de jour" (Beauty of the Day) as a prostitute. She works only during the mid-afternoons, hence the name.