Potiche (Trophy Wife)---a French film about a woman taking power with Catherine Deneuve

This is a great film directed by Francois Ozon, starring Catherine Deneuve as Suzanne, the 'Potiche which means 'Trophy Wife' of Robert, a man (played by Fabrice Luchini)who runs an umbrella factory.

Her husband has a mistress but she doesn't mind. Suzanne has her own little secrets.When the opportunity comes up, she steps into in her husband's position because after all, it was originally her father's company!Her style of leadership is very different from her husband's. She finds some help from an old flame Maurice, played by Gerard Depardieu.

I don't want to tell you too much about this film's plot but that it's interesting, thought-provoking and amusing. It's great to watch 3 long-time mature French actors work together in this film. Deneuve is very, very fortunate to be able to play anther interesting character as she continues her long career in acting!There's a lovely scene of Suzanne and Maurice dancing at the Badaboum!

Here are some quotes from this film:

"The kitchen's not my place, the Badaboum's not my place...Where is my place?"---Suzanne to her husband

"Think it's fun to be running an umbrella factory with 300 workers? Constantly battling with thge unions, VAT, price freezes..."---Robert to Suzanne

"I'm not gullible, like your wife."---Nadege, played by Karin Viard

"Sometimes even the closest couples experience a lull. Then the sparks fly again."---Suzanne

"Of course I'm happy. I made up my mind to be."---Suzanne to her Joelle

"The last thing I want is to end up like you, a trophy housewife."---Joelle (played by Judith Godreche) tells her mother Suzanne

"Laurent cannot marry Floriane Marquiest. A Pujol marrying a Marquiset...it's against nature!"---Robert

"I have no desire to work at that factory with Dad. I don't want to be a reactionary boss everyone hates."---Laurent, Suzanne's son played by Jeremie Renier

"You're out of touch. Paternalism is dead. You have to be an asshole to succeed now. A slave to unbridled capitalism."---Laurent

Stirring up the past is a bad idea."---Maurice to Suzanne

"Our little tryst clashes with your image as a working class hero?"---Suzanne to Maurice

"I may be a man of the people but I know how to respect a lady."---Maurice

"Did you tell Laurent to forget the Marquiset girl? .....Fine. Your force me to reveal something. Something rather unpleasant. But you asked for it.---Robert

"To think that you didn't buy me a birthday present. This is some gift!"---Suzanne

"It's a sign of the times, Mom. Women everywhere are taking power."---Laurent

"Workers ask too much when bosses give too little."---Maurice

"Some things are unforgettable!"---Maurice

"Who's the bourgeois with the bumpkin?"---women at Badaboum

"Unfortunately , it's 1977 now."---Joelle

"I refuse to be a trophy mistress!"---Nadege

Here are some scenes from this film:

Here's the official trailer for this film:

Cloud 9

This German film directed by Andreas Dresen is about romance in old age. The original title is Wolke 9 and the English title is a direct translation of the German title.

Inge, played by Ursula Werner, has been married to Werner (played by Horst Rehberg) for 30 years and he even helped raise her children. While doing her alteration business, she finds herself attracted to Karl,(play by Horst Westphal) one of her customers. More recently, Ursula Werner had a role as the character Hiltrud Schloemer in the German/ Norwegian film Two Lives which starred Liv Ullmann.

I don't want to say much more about the plot because I might spoil it. I found the film funny, sexy, romantic and touching.

Some of the most touching aspects about this film were the little acts of love that the couples do for each other. Watching such a film reminds viewers that Passion can happen at any age. Even old people can still fall in love and enjoy sex!

Warning: Don't watch this if you're grossed out or repulsed by the idea of old folks getting it on!

Here are a few quotes from this film:

"But we still have each other."---Inge to Werner

"If I end up like my father, you can just take me into the woods and shoot me."---Werner to Inge

"Do you know how 80-year-olds have sex?"---Karl

"No living creature can become as large and as old as a tree."---Karl

"The countryside along the train lines is much prettier than along the freeways."---Inge

"After living together for so long, we should be able to talk to each other if something like this happens."---Inge

"Now I understand why you seemed like a young girl."---Werner to Inge


Here are a few scenes from this film:

Here the trailer:

Love is All You Need

The original title ("Den Skaldede Frisor") of this Danish film directed by Susanne Bier literally translates as "The Bald Hairdresser." BTW, Susanne Bier has done some very interesting films. I'll mention some more directed by her in future posts.

Ida, (portrayed wonderfully by Danish actress Trine Dyrholm) the heroine of this film is in fact a bald hairdresser, hence the original Danish title.   She wears a blond wig to hide her bald head, a symptom of her cancer treatment. She comes home to find her husband Leif (Kim Bodnia) engaged "in action" on their living room couch with another woman.

Meanwhile, Trine's daughter  Astrid (played by Molly Blixt Egelind) is in Italy with her fiancé Patrick (played by Sebastian Jessen) preparing for their wedding at his family's Italian home.

By accident, Ida meets the Phillip (played by Pierce Brosnan, who even though he's getting older is still quite dashingly handsome!), father of her daughter's fiancé. Be sure to check out the car that Ida is driving.

I found this to be a very enjoyable film with humor, drama, romance and intrigue. It qualifies as a multilingual film with English, Danish and Italian. Those who love color and scenery, will enjoy the lovely scenery in the Italian locations. Watch for the recurring images of lemons and roses.

BTW, Trine along with another Danish actor, who I find quite intriguing,  is in another film that I'll be reviewing soon

Some quotes from the film:

“I doubt he’s even noticed one of them is missing.” ---Ida talking about her breasts

“Bitten, you gorgeous, beautiful, sweet girl. This is never gonna happen. I am a guy who has chosen to be by himself. Simple as that. ---Philip

“You’re doing her on my mom’s couch, while I’m fighting for my life.”---Ida

“You’re so emotional. You got your finger up your bum and your brain in neutral.”—Patrick


“Let me quote Henry Miller, You can never get nor give enough love. And to quote Herman Bang, Indifference is love’s most painful dregs.”---Benedikte

Conversation:

“I really don’t understand why anybody will work for you. When you’re so awful and stupid and not nice.”---Ida


“I pay them good money.”---Philip

Here are some scenes from this film:

Here's the trailer:

Le Divorce- French and American culture clash

Le Divorce is a beautifully visual film directed by James Ivory. BTW, one of my favorite older films directed by him is the stunningly beautiful A Room with a View.  The screenplay is written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala who has written for many great films including the one I just mentioned. and she just died earlier this year.

Isabel (played by Kate Hudson) goes to Paris to visit and offer support to her married sister Roxy (Naomi Watts) who is expecting her second child. Little does she know how much support Roxy will need as her husband Charles-Henri is in the process of walking out just as his American sister-in-law is arriving?

This film is a great satire and commentary of French and American culture and attitudes.

According to this film infidelity is a common habit in French society. It almost seems to be that people take it for granted when they find out that someone’s spouse has strayed.

Quoting her French friends, Roxy mimics their habitual phrases when they find out about infidelity: “Mais oui!” “Bien sur!” “Naturellement!”  I guess it’s considered surprising when spouses stay faithful. But according to my own experience, infidelity is quite common not only among the French in France but in many other cultures that are French-speaking or not. 

According to Roxy, the French will discuss every taboo except money.

Thierry Thermitte is the philandering Antoine who always gives his mistresses a special expensive handbag. I’m reminded of Marlene Dietrich who always gave her lovers a special lighter as a souvenir of their affairs. Though Thierry is getting a little “long in the tooth”, he still has a certain charm with his hypnotic blue eyes.

In a funny way, Kate Hudson reminded me a little of her mother Goldie Hawn when she acted in the movie with Peter Sellers in There’s a Girl in My Soup.

Here's a clip:

Kate Hudson is the charming young Isabel who's ready to experience more of French culture and improve her French.   Glenn Close is the mature American writer and woman of experience. Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing play the parents who are overly concerned that their prize painting doesn’t get lost in their daughter’s divorce settlement. Leslie Caron is the French mother-in-law.

Humor, satire, intrigue, mystery and romance—this film has a bit of all these plus it’s also bilingual, in English and French!

A favorite quote from this film:

“In the end, every hero becomes a bore.” Attributed to Emerson and slightly altered from “Every hero becomes a bore, at last.”

Here’s the official trailer of Le Divorce:  

Below are a few scenes from Le Divorce:

Note of Interest:
Seems that infidelity is assumed to be a regular part of married life in French culture. It's also becoming a very regular part of American culture as technology is making it even easier for those whose desire is to stray from their primary relationships. In the United States, about 30% of divorce litigation is because of online affairs.