Trophy Wife (2011)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Both French stars Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu have made some of France's finest films and covered a huge array of subjects.On paper, this Francois Ozon directed comedy should work and has much going for it. Based on a play by Pierre Barillet, it possibly could have worked better in that format. 'Potiche', meaning Trophy Wife refers to the lady at leisure, Suzanne Pujol (Deneuve), married to Robert (Fabrice Luchini) and whose home-making skills are left to the staff.We initially see Suzanne out jogging at a leisurely pace and even then, the first odd and quirky snippets pop up - fornicating rabbits, a doe, all sort of cheerily saying hello to us - and her. From then on, my thoughts were was that I wasn't going to like Potiche and neither did my friend. We put up with 20 more minutes before switching off.I decided to borrow the DVD (his parent's) to see if it was actually any good and I still couldn't get into it, though I saw it all. It was, I think, the 1970's style (it IS set then) sort of sitcom, with blindingly fast and largely trite dialogue but without the canned laughter, that I almost expected. Except, I didn't laugh at all, not for the whole of the film.There were some interesting plot-lines that involved descendants from affairs and the run for Mayor but all the ones regarding the ins and outs of unions and saving the umbrella factory left me cold. Depardieu's character as the Mayor and past romantic interest to Deneuve's Suzanne was a bit one-dimensional and boring, I found.Unfortunately, Potiche irritated me more than it entertained me and whilst there were many well-timed verbal exchanges between the characters, their straightforward delivery gave no room for acting that was more than what was necessary. I was disappointed with Potiche but can see perhaps why others have enjoyed it.

I first saw the French actress Catherine Deneuve in a movie in the English-language "Repulsion" in 1965 when she as just 22. Playing the 'trophy wife' of the title in this 2010 French film, Deneuve is 67 but still glamorous. When Suzanne Pujol's husband (Fabrice Luchini) - a sexist partner and a harsh boss - has to absent himself from his 300-employee umbrella factory for health reasons, she takes over and transforms both the industrial relations and the business performance of the plant with a sensitive feminine touch that makes full use of her connections including the local mayor (Gérard Depardieu).Set in 1977 and a comedy, this is an old-fashioned and very light work that lacks any subtlety or nuance with writer and director François Ozon simply satiring both the factory owner and his trade unions (CFDT and UGT).

For someone who loves French Cinema the plus side is a cast list boasting seven 'names' albeit one, Sergei Lopez, has only one brief cameo, whilst the negative side is that it was directed by Francois Ozon, a flavor-of-the-month helmer whose movies tend to fluctuate wildly between entertaining and pretentious. There's no way I'm going to spurn a chance to see Karin Viard and Judith Godreche in one film especially when there's a bonus in the shape of Fabrice Luchini, Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu. Alas, so many of them are wasted on what could have been a definitive Billy Wilder type comedy with a sting in the tail. It's not that any of the players are less than very good or that the plot is totally without merit it's more that instead of insight masquerading as froth we get froth that is barely froth, more the skin on the coffee masquerading as froth.

Successful French director Francois Ozon has made a delightful contribution to the French Film Festival with this splendid lightweight comedy about the feminist movement in 1970s France. Parading onto the silver screen with abundant energy and charm, it casually and engagingly introduces its colourful collection of characters with a quick succession of scenes bursting with razor-sharp witticism. Neglected trophy housewife Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) spends her days slaving away in the grand estate of her horrid husband Robert (Fabrice Luchini), the tyrannical boss of a modest Umbrella factory. Robert spends his days immersed in his own corrupt despotism and long evenings of underhand sleaze with his spunky secretary Nadège (Karin Viard). Susanne appears well aware of Robert's nightly habits, but, naturally, she remains as obedient and docile as a puppy dog. It is their now grown-up children, Laurent (Jérémie Renier) and Joëlle (Judith Godrèche), who are the only ones of the family to oppose their father. Although, outside the Pujol family there are many people railing against him, particularly the restless factory workers. Petitions and rallies are not uncommon in the workplace and Robert has responded to each one with typically unproductive rage and stubbornness, but when a particularly violent protest enters illegality and threatens Robert's safety, the family becomes genuinely concerned. However, as they are unwilling to involve the police, Susanne desperately seeks the aid of her former lover the Mayor (Gérard Depardieu) who agrees to help provided that the employees' demands will be properly listened to. Robert is saved, but is still injured, leaving his position to be filled by his wife, until he recovers, seeing as neither Laurent nor Joëlle will volunteer.This event marks the beginning of Susanne's long journey towards independence and success. Her actions are highly entertaining to watch, and she is played very well by the lovely Deneuve. The rest of the cast is also wonderful, especially Luchini as the despicable misogynist husband and Viard as the feisty feminist secretary who ends up being Susanne's biggest fan. It is simply a sumptuous farcical treat of a film, filled with many tongue-in-cheek inside jokes and highly memorable moments. It might not be as artistic as Incendies, but it does leave one with a much nicer and more satisfied feeling.