Born in Paris in 1944, Marie-Christine Barrault is a French actress known for her compelling performances. In Women in Prison (1988), she navigates the gritty landscape of exploitation cinema, bringing depth to her character amidst the film's provocative themes. Her career began with a strong theatrical background influenced by her family, including notable performers Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renaud. Barrault's journey from stage to screen reflects a dedication to her craft, making her a distinctive presence in the cult film genre.
Women in Prison
A women's prison. Women arrive, some for as long as eight years. They work making teddy bears. Dessombes, the head matron, misses little. She gets intelligence from Marthe, an older convict. When the uncompromising and difficult Nelly is sent to the hole for something she didn't do, the women suspect that Marthe had a hand in it. Brigitte breaks off their friendship, so Marthe adopts Nicole, guilty of infanticide and shunned by the other prisoners, as her surrogate daughter. Sabine, young, energetic, and one of the few with a husband who visits her, falls in love with Lucie, a woman who has given up on life and fears the day of her release. Tensions mount.