One Woman or Two

Director: Daniel Vigne
Screenwriters: Elisabeth Rappeneau, Daniel Vigne

Institute History

  • 1986 Sundance Film Festival

Description

One Woman or Two is a zany French comedy in the mold of Frank Capra’s American madness. It’s a hilarious, romantic romp of mistaken identities with all things, of course, ending happily ever after. The story goes something like this. A French paleontologist, Julien Chayssac (Gerard Depardieu) makes the find of the century: the two-million-year-old fossilized remains of the first French woman. An American foundation is aroused and its director, Mrs. Heffner (Dr. Ruth Westheimer!), rushes to France in support. At the airport Julien meets and mistakes for Mrs. Heffner the beautiful Jessica (Sigourney Weaver), a woman on the run who plays along with the farce. And that’s only the beginning. Characters crisscross the Atlantic, lovers reject lovers. Kidnappings and scientific scandals follow. But, lo and behold, love somehow triumphs!

One Woman or Two reunites director Daniel Vigne with actor Gerard Depardieu, following their success with The Return of Martin Guerre (1983). Sigourney Weaver is, of course, no stranger to the screen (Alien, The Year of Living Dangerously, Ghostbusters), while Dr. Ruth Westheimer makes her heralded debut.

Screening Details

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