A Woman’s Tale: Paul Cox

One of these days I need to write a "thank you" letter to Roger Ebert for all of the wisdom, knowledge, and film recommendations that he has passed down. Once again, he has brought me to the attention of a film I had never heard of by a director I never cared to explore. That film is Paul Cox's A Woman's Tale. And what a film it is! Rarely do I encounter films with such heart, such knowledge, such honesty, and such bravery. The film centers on an elderly woman named Martha who is slowly succumbing to cancer. In her last days, instead of collapsing under the weight of her fear towards death she becomes steeled in her love of life. Take her personal nurse Anna. Anna both loves and cares for Martha and perhaps sees a little of who she one day wants to become in her. Martha in turn insists that Anna carry on an affair with her married lover, Gary. But the specifics of the plot seem inconsequential compared to the central performance of Sheila Florance as Martha. One of Australia's most distinguished actresses, the film A Woman's Tale was hand-crafted for her. Just as Martha was dying in the film, so, too, was Florance in real life. In fact, mere days after receiving the 1991 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Florance died. But the film is less of a meditation of death than a celebration of life. Though Martha (and Florance) have suffered, they remain steadfast in their belief that life is beautiful and worth living. Although it is brutal in its presentation and merciless in its truth, A Woman's Tale is one of the most inspirational and life-affirming films ever made.

9/10