The Maid

Name: The Maid
Genre: Drama
Released: October 16, 2009
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 82

2009

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 31 Ratings

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The Maid

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Movie Details & Credits

Elephant Eye Films | Release Date: October 16, 2009

Summary: The Maid is an insightful comedic drama about family, class and self-discovery. (Elephant Eye Films)

Director: Sebastián Silva

Genre(s): Drama

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Dana Stevens

It's funny--bleakly, blackly so at times, but also tenderly funny with flashes of genuine compassion. The Maid is among the best films I've seen this year. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Raquel's devotion to her employer is barbed with hatred, need, and an insecurity she manifests through constant tiny acts of sabotage that would be funny if they weren't also so chilling -- bordering on psychotic. Read full review

Scott Foundas

In a remarkable performance that won her a special award from the world cinema jury at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Chilean television vet Saavedra goes through one of the most uncanny psychophysical transformations I've ever seen in a movie without the benefit of obvious makeup or other prosthetics. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

It takes Mr. Silva a while to finish his story, but the ending of The Maid is so intelligently handled and so generously and honestly conceived, it proves well worth the wait. Read full review

Noel Murray

Even at its most upbeat, The Maid is something of a tragedy. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Silva expertly maintains the tension, asking the audience to interpret Raquel's bizarro behavior. His diagnosis is a pleasant surprise. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

An intriguing psychological study that, more or less, leaves out the psychology and presents us with surface behavior. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarshallL.

Oct 29, 2009

Riveting. A great night out. Filming with one camera gives a documentary effect. I loved it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LindaN.

Dec 22, 2009

Unfortunately, most of the reviews I've read miss the point of this complicated, mutli-layered film about class. In Santiago, Chile there are an estimated 250,000 live-in maids who are probably living lives of the same quiet desperation as Raquel, the main character. What Silva has Unfortunately, most of the reviews I've read miss the point of this complicated, mutli-layered film about class. In Santiago, Chile there are an estimated 250,000 live-in maids who are probably living lives of the same quiet desperation as Raquel, the main character. What Silva has remarkably achieved is the intimate examination of how inequality debases the abused as well as the abuser. Such an intimate relationship between employer and employee brings into sharp focus what is wrong with such relationships that border on indentured slavery.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JohnV

Dec 24, 2009

The payoff to this great film comes at the end---you really must be patient. But when you get to those final scenes, well, there's not been a better movie I've seen this year, and I've seen some great ones.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jeremyp

Nov 18, 2011

It's nice to watch a movie that leads you in one direction, then switches to another, and then switches yet again. Raquel has been a maid in the same household in Chile for 20 years. It shows. She's dour, sullen, angry, and the queen of passive aggressiveness. The wife of the household is aIt's nice to watch a movie that leads you in one direction, then switches to another, and then switches yet again. Raquel has been a maid in the same household in Chile for 20 years. It shows. She's dour, sullen, angry, and the queen of passive aggressiveness. The wife of the household is a major enabler and keeps her on in spite of increasingly bizarre behavior. When new maids are hired to help Raquel out she makes life so uncomfortable they leave. Until one day a new maid arrives and instead of reacting to Raquel's spiteful acts and pulling away, she moves close and bonds with her and completely changes Raquel's behavior. Raquel blossoms. The question is will Raquel's change last without her new friend? Great acting, especially from the 2 maids!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PaulG

Oct 23, 2009

An absolutely amazing lead performance, with no shortage of other fine portrayals. I shudder to think about what an American studio would have done to this script. It keeps the audience off-balance and provides a sobering glimpse into the complex relationship between the haves and the An absolutely amazing lead performance, with no shortage of other fine portrayals. I shudder to think about what an American studio would have done to this script. It keeps the audience off-balance and provides a sobering glimpse into the complex relationship between the haves and the have-nots in this world. Truly touching and disturbing at the same time. There are no villains and there are no heroes--much like real life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BobK

Nov 17, 2009

I can't get as excited about this as the reviews I read before seeing it would suggest. It seemed overly long and borderline boring, making the same point multiple times.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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