An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (film)

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman
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Directed byChris Petit
Screenplay byElizabeth McKay
Chris Petit
Brian Scobie
Based onAn Unsuitable Job for a Woman
by P. D. James
Produced byPeter McKay
Michael Relph
Starring
CinematographyMartin Schäfer
Edited byMick Audsley
Production
companies
Distributed byGoldcrest Films
Release dates
  • 16 February 1982 (1982-02-16) (Berlinale)
  • 21 May 1982 (1982-05-21) (United Kingdom)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£750,000

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is a 1982 British psychological thriller film directed by Chris Petit and starring Billie Whitelaw, Paul Freeman, and Pippa Guard. It follows a young female private investigator who is hired to investigate the mysterious suicide of a university student, only to uncover a number of disturbing secrets about his family. The film is based on the 1972 novel of the same name by P. D. James. It marked the first adaptation of the novel, followed by a television series adaptation produced in 1997.

The film was entered into the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival.