The Lady Banker (La Banquière)

The Lady Banker, original French title La Banquière, is a 1980 French drama. Director Francis Girod wrote the screenplay together with Georges Conchon. The film runs 131 minutes, its music is by Ennio Morricone and it was produced by Ariel Zeitoun. In Germany it was shown as Die Bankiersfrau.

It is a fictional story rooted in a real life: the screenplay was inspired by the scandal Marthe Hanau left behind in the 1920s and 1930s. Hanau became famous for promoting the stocks and securities of shell or nonexistent companies belonging to her friends and business partners, costing many small investors millions of francs. The lead character, Emma Eckhert, is played by Romy Schneider.

Alongside Schneider, the cast includes Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jean-Claude Brialy, Claude Brasseur, Marie-France Pisier, Daniel Mesguich, Jean Carmet, Noëlle Châtelet, Daniel Auteuil and Thierry Lhermitte. Jean-Michel Ribes and Philippe Brizard also appear in the cast list.