The Women

The Women

Year: 2008

Runtime: 114 min

Language: French

Director: Diane English

Budget: $16M

DramaComedy

When Mary Haines discovers her husband's infidelity, her life is thrown into turmoil. Seeking support, she turns to her close circle of friends who work in Manhattan’s competitive publishing, fashion, and finance worlds. Led by the ambitious Sylvie Fowler, the women offer comfort and advice, but as Mary confronts the complexities of her situation, their own relationships and loyalties are challenged. The film explores the intricacies of female friendship and the difficulties of navigating love, loss, and betrayal.

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Timeline & Setting – The Women (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Women (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary (early 2000s)

The events unfold in a contemporary setting, reflecting the fashion industry and social dynamics of the era. The movie uses recognizable locations and a modern, media-driven social circle to explore relationships, career, and reputation. It portrays a time when magazines, retail power players, and gossip columns shape a woman's life and choices.

Location

Connecticut, New York City

The story is anchored in a stylish suburban home in Connecticut, signaling a life of comfort and social polish. The fashion world of New York City looms large, with Sylvie steering a high-profile magazine and Saks Fifth Avenue as backdrop for the affair. The contrast between the intimate, polished home life and the glittering, demanding urban scene underscores the tension between personal happiness and public image.

🏠 Suburban life 🗽 Fashion industry cityscape 💎 Wealthy social circle

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

Main Characters – The Women (2008)

Meet the key characters of The Women (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mary Haines (Annette Bening)

Mary is a devoted wife and mother who appears to have a perfect suburban life. When she confronts her husband's affair, she moves from shock to determination, ultimately choosing independence and a fresh start while attempting to repair her marriage. She channels resilience into launching her own clothing line and rebuilding her family relationship.

💼 👩‍👧‍👦 🎨

Sylvie Fowler (Meg Ryan)

Sylvie is a powerful editor navigating the pressures of fashion media. She initially supports Mary but betrays her to protect her own career, revealing the fragility of loyalty in a gossip-driven industry. She later steps away from her job, reflecting a personal reckoning with ambition and friendship.

📰 💃 🏙️

Crystal

Crystal is the perfume salesgirl whose affair with Mary's husband catalyzes the central conflict. She embodies the collision of personal desire and social fantasy within a consumerist setting, becoming a catalyst for upheaval in the women's lives.

💎 💄 🧪

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

Major Themes – The Women (2008)

Explore the central themes of The Women (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

The four women form a tight-knit circle that supports each other through personal upheaval. They navigate loyalty, jealousy, and the balancing act of careers and family. The film tracks how trust can fracture under strain, and how reconciliation requires humility and sacrifice.

🗞️ Betrayal & Gossip

Gossip and media attention drive much of the conflict, turning private pain into public spectacle. Mary's discovery of her husband's affair, and Sylvie's decision to share the affair for professional gain, expose how reputations are managed in a fashionable, judgmental world. The narrative shows how truth can be weaponized in service of ambition.

💪 Independence

Mary reclaims her agency by starting her own clothing line, challenging the traditional roles expected of her. The pursuit of personal and professional autonomy is a throughline that culminates in her fashion show and renewed focus on daughter Molly. The film frames empowerment as a process of rebuilding life on one's own terms.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

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The Women Summary

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The Women Summary

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