Women at War review: Engaging drama explores a war beyond the battlefield

Women at War follows the stories of four women who contribute to the war far away from the battlefield and set an example for everyone. The series is now streaming on Netflix.

Story

It’s September 1914, and France has been at war with the German soldiers for over a month now. The war was expected to be short, but it resulted in the deaths of around 300,000 soldiers.

At Saint-Paulin, the French army is struggling to contain the German invasion. The men of the town are forced to join the battlefield.

Caroline’s husband leaves as well and hands her the keys to his truck manufacturing company. He shows immense trust in her. She not only vows to preserve her husband’s legacy but also offers the wives of the men who left for war a place at her company.

Suzanne is running away from a detective. She picks up the identity of a dead person and starts aiding a doctor at a convent until she finds a way out of town.

At the same time, Mother Agnes comforts the wounded soldiers. She understands their trauma like no other person. Lastly, Marguerite, a prostitute, is in town hoping to reunite with her son, who is part of the French army.

Performances

Women at War promises the stories of four influential women, and the lead cast helps in delivering them.

The lead cast portrays these four characters as not only bold and ambitious but also caring. All four of them balance this equation very well.

The rest of the cast also effectively captures the emotions of people in the war, be it on the battlefield or on the sidelines. Their reactions tell a story the viewers don’t know about but can feel.

Positives

The sets are impressive, and the makers create a fitting environment of war. There is a sense of chaos everywhere in the town, which a viewer can witness while watching the show.

The stories of the four characters are given an equal amount of time. None of them overshadows the other, and all four of these characters come out as someone to look up to.

The show manages to capture each and every aspect of the war, though it is only dedicated to the women battling back at home.

The horrors of the war, the trauma the soldiers face, and the things they rely on to get through are some of the things put together well, and the show doesn’t try to solely portray the heroic side.

Lastly, the show is filled with both evil and kind men. The viewers get to see how barbaric the soldiers are initially in the show.

At the same time, they also get to see characters like the German soldier at the end who saves Caroline, her daughter, and Maurgreite from his army, aware of what they will do to them.

Negatives

Women at War doesn’t place the stories of its main characters properly throughout the episode. At times, it feels like their scenes are scattered around.

Characters like Marcel, played by Yannick Choirat, go through a change of heart that is not built properly. Marcel’s growing attraction toward Maurgreite is not explained thoroughly.

Verdict

Women at War is definitely an engrossing drama that captures wars like never before. It justifies that the situation after the war is just as horrific as the one on the battlefield.

The steady pace, the well-written characters, and the environment make the show a binge-worthy watch.

Women at War
Women at War review: Engaging drama explores a war beyond the battlefield 1

Director: Alexandre Laurent

Date Created: 2023-01-19 13:30

Editor's Rating:
4

Also Read: Women at War ending explained: Does Marguerite die on the battlefield?

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