Two Ladies

In his latest film TWO LADIES, Philippe Faucon (“The Betrayal,” 30th CIFF) revisits the subject of racism but in a much more personal setting-the French home of aging quadriplegic Esther. A grouchy old Jewish woman, Esther employs Sélima, an Arab nurse who left her previous job because of the incessant racial slurs of her patients. Surprisingly, despite the religious and cultural differences between Esther and Sélima, the unlikely pair (who share Algerian heritage) manages to get along. Esther even employs Sélima's mother Halima to cook her kosher meals. But racial tensions cannot be completely forgotten. In the evenings Sélima and Halima return home to the increasingly anti-Semitic views of their friends and neighbors – views that must be suppressed when caring for ailing Esther. But when Esther is forced to move in with her two forgiving caretakers, complications are sure to arise. Faucon elicits warm, genuine performances from his female leads in this exquisite tale of friendship in the face of social injustice. (In French and Arabic with English subtitles)- E.J.B.