Olivia

OLIVIA is a remarkable work by one of France's first ground-breaking female filmmakers, which easily merits rediscovery today after being neglected for almost 70 years. Plunging the viewer-and the main character-into a true lion's den, Jacqueline Audry (1908-1977) depicts a 19th century boarding school for young girls, one divided into two camps where all the shots, even the most underhanded, seem allowed. That's because the two mistresses of the house, Miss Julie (Edwige Feuillere) and Miss Cara (Simone Simon), are engaged in a true turf war, and a war of the heart; competing for the affections of their students, they rouse passion, hatred and unexpected reversals of loyalties.