Greenaway's '8 1/2 Women' does indeed require patience, i recently watched the film with a friend who found '8 1/2...' tiresome towards the end, though it was an enjoyable experience for both us- we laughed at more than a few of the scenes, particularly a scene in the first half hour in which Storey and his father attend the funeral of their beloved mother/wife. The film is a big improvement on 'Prospero's Books', but none of the characters live up to the hilarious performance of Michael Gambon in 'The cook, the thief, his wife and her lover'. If you enjoy subtle, slow-paced narratives then you will find '8 1/2' worth watching, it is strikingly original and in some ways quite shocking- overall an enjoyable piece of work.
