8½ Women

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8½ Women
DVD cover
Directed by	Peter Greenaway
Produced by	Kees Kasander
Written by	Peter Greenaway
Starring	John Standing Matthew Delamere Vivian Wu
Music by	Frank Loesser Giuseppe Verdi
Cinematography	Reinier van Brummelen Sacha Vierny
Editing by	Elmer Leupen
Distributed by	Lions Gate Films
Release date(s)	May 22, 1999 (Cannes) May 26, 2000
Running time	118 min.
Country	United Kingdom Netherlands Luxembourg Germany
Language	English
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8½ Women is a 1999 film directed by Peter Greenaway starring John Standing, Matthew Delamere, Vivian Wu, Annie Shizuka Inoh, Barbara Sarafian, Kirina Mano, Toni Collette, Amanda Plummer, Natacha Amal, Manna Fujiwara, and Polly Walker.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Wealthy businessman Philip Emmenthal and his son Storey open their own private harem in Geneva (they get the idea while watching Federico Fellini's 8½ and after Storey is "given" a woman, Simato (Inoh), to waive her pachinko debts). They sign one-year contracts with eight (and a half) women to this effect. The women each have a gimmick (one is a nun, another a kabuki performer, etc.). Philip soon becomes dominated by his favorite of the concubines, Palmira (Walker), who views Storey as more of a little brother than a lover, despite what their contract might stipulate. Philip dies, the concubines' contracts expire, and Storey is left alone with Giulietta (the titular "½", played by Fujiwara) and of course the money and the houses.