Cigarettes & Nylons

This is really an excellent slice of life film, dealing with French war wives near the end of World War II. The characters seem like real people (a prime definition of effective acting), and the story line is unpredictable, much like in actual life. These women are fascinating to watch, as they deal with culture shock, heartbreak, displacement, and, in a very few cases, fulfillment. Army personnel in France are quite convincing, too, never "caught in the act of acting." The second half of the movie depicts home-front America, with authentic looking sets, props, and ambiance. Special accolades go to Adélaïde Leroux, who plays the lead character, Jeannette, and to the director, Fabrice Cazeneuve. This was originally shown as a TV movie (Cigarettes et bas nylons) in 2010, but it looks resplendent enough to have been made for the big screen. It is in French, with English subtitles. Be aware that dialogue is swift, so it takes a fast reader to keep up with all that is said. The English title (Chesterfield) comes from the name of a U.S. Army camp in France where young French women were instructed on how to make worthy wives for their American husbands.