Expert: Mel - 5/8/2010

Question
Have you ever seen this movie?  Foreign crime movie.  Black and white.  Maybe dutch.  May have been based on a true story.  Not a recent film, perhaps 20 years old.  Basic plot:  Several unrelated women are shopping in a small shop when the owner (or manager) catches one of them shoplifting.  The women have never met each other prior to this incident.  When the owner tries to stop the shoplifter all of the women gang up on him and kill him.  The killing happens at the beginning of the movie and the rest of the movie is about the investigation of the crime and the trial of the women.  None of the women are willing to talk about it or say what happened.  Not even in court.  Do you know the title of this movie?

Answer
Hello Nancy,

This is a 1982 film from the Netherlands called "De stilte rond Christine M." ("A Question Of Silence" in the USA).

STORY OUTLINE: Three women, all strangers to each other, meet in a dress shop. One of the three is approached by the male proprietor as she is shoplifting a garment. When he approaches her the other two join her in beating the man to death. Other female shoppers ignore the whole situation and leave when the crime is complete. A female psychriatrist is appointed to examine the women. Contrary to public opinion the psychiatrist finds they are not insane, but implies the rage expressed by the crime is a result of the male dominated society.


Glad to be of help. Cheers.........Mel.