The Smiling Madame Beudet is a 1923 silent film directed by French director Germaine Dulac, which is considered one of the first feminist movies in film history. The film is an adaptation of a short story by the French writer Denys Amiel, and tells the story of a bored and intelligent woman named Madame Beudet (played by Germaine Dermoz) who is trapped in a loveless and oppressive marriage with her domineering and insensitive husband (played by Alexandre Arquillière).
Madame Beudet tries to escape the monotony of her life by reading novels and daydreaming, but her husband's presence constantly interrupts her solitude. She becomes increasingly frustrated with her husband's behavior and his cruelty towards her, and begins to imagine ways to escape her unhappy marriage.
One day, her husband presents her with a gun, and she fantasizes about killing him. Despite her hesitation, she ultimately decides against it, realizing that his death would not provide her with the freedom she desires.
The film is noted for its use of impressionistic and surrealistic imagery and its emphasis on the psychological impact of domestic oppression on women. It remains an important work of feminist cinema and continues to inspire filmmakers and cultural critics to this day.