This is another of director Peter Greenaway's works. Just mentioning his name ought to be enough to suggest this film was very theatrical, bizarre and beautiful, much like his film The Cook, The Theif, His Wife and Her Lover. Set in Tokyo and Geneva it revolves around a 55-year-old father (played by John Standing) and his son (Matthew Delamere) who wander down some rather unorthodox paths on the death of their wife/mother. Essentially, the father/son wander around their palatial villa in Geneva nude bemoaning the death of their wife/mother. Then after watching Fellini's 8½, they turn the villa into a brothel, populated with 8½ concubines.
Various twists and turns ensue as the concubines maneuver and plot for favoritism before each departs and the movie ends. It's all truly bizarre and surreal in an art-house sort of way. Surely though, from the 'art' of film-making it is quite astonishing. Greenaway is a master when it comes to film-making and his skill in framing shots is bang-on. Each is visually mesmerizing, however, the story - decadent as it is - doesn't hold together very well. 8½ Women is worth a rent if you're feeling artsy or randy yes.
My rating 5 out of 10.
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