The Public Woman
1984, French. Directed by Andrzej Żuławski.
An inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short time she is unable to draw the line between acting and reality. She winds up playing a real-life role posing as the dead wife of another Czech immigrant, who is manipulated by the filmmaker into commiting a political assassination.
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- French
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.0/10 from 64 TMDB viewer ratings.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Public Woman
The Public Woman isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 16 June 1984.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Andrzej ŻuławskiDirector
- Valérie KapriskyEthel
- Francis HusterLucas Kessling
- Lambert WilsonMilan Mliska
- Patrick BauchauEthel's Father
- Gisèle PascalGertrude
- Roger DumasAndré
- Diane DelorElena Mliska
- Jean-Paul FarréPierre
- Olivier Achard1st Assistant Director
- Yveline AilhaudRachel
- Michel AlbertiniMaurice
- Marianne BaslerYoung Anarchist
Details
- Released
- 16 June 1984
- Original title
- La Femme publique
- Country
- France
- Written by
- Dominique Garnier, Andrzej Żuławski
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked The Public Woman
The Passengers of the Night
2022 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Chaos
2001 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
My Little Princess
2011 · 6.5/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Promises
2022 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Sign of the Lion
1962 · 7.0/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Jacquot
1991 · 7.4/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Madame Bovary
1991 · 6.2/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Killer's Kiss
1955 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Chocolat
1988 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Polina
2016 · 6.6/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Public Woman: quick answers
Is The Public Woman worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.0/10 from 64 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Public Woman?
The Public Woman runs 113 minutes (1h 53m).
Does The Public Woman have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Public Woman. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Public Woman parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Public Woman yet.
Which OTT platform is The Public Woman on?
The Public Woman isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 16 June 1984. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Public Woman?
If you liked The Public Woman, try The Passengers of the Night, Chaos, My Little Princess.
Who directed The Public Woman?
The Public Woman (1984) was directed by Andrzej Żuławski and stars Valérie Kaprisky, Francis Huster, Lambert Wilson.