Friday, April 29, 2011

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)
Potiche (2010)

Genre: Comedy
Director: François Ozon
Starring:  Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard
Duration: 103 min.
Rating: 7.4/10

Summary:
Suzanne is a housewife married to a wealthy businessman. Her life changes dramatically when she's forced to lead the company after her husband's heart attack. Surprisingly, Suzanne feels very comfortable in her new job and she's able to revive the business.


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Potiche is a film directed by François Ozon (Swimming Pool) based on a play of the same name by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Grédy, it premiered in competition at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival.  The title comes from the French slang term that roughly translates to "trophy wife".

This is on the surface, a light sit-com style campy comedy with cheesy dialog, stock characters, and over the top 70's hairstyles, but somehow Ozon makes it charming, playful, and yet complex.  Maybe the fine performances from legendary actors Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu, or the cheeky irony of having Deneuve's character in charge of an umbrella factory, or the stylized and super saturated technicolor like cinematography.  It all comes together to form an intelligent satire out of a whimsical farce.   

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

Potiche (2010)

6 comments:

Jack L said...

This one doesn't interest me much, although Depardieu and Deneuve are always worth watching I doubt I'll check it out...

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks. It is worth watching if you like French comedies.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah the hair styles in this are hilarious.

Hermann Rorschach said...

Is Depardieu wearing a fat suit, or have I just not seen him in a really long time?

Matt S. said...

Great review! This one does seem interesting, so if I come across it I may give it a go

Adalmin said...

The HAIR. Look at the guys' hair!

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