Strong and Moving!

As Good As It Gets

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Suzanne Pujol, like some women in her social position, was instrumental in starting the careers of the men they marry. That is, if the husband does not come from money, the thankful father-in-law made anything possible for the man who marry his princess to do well in life, even directing and managing the family business after his retirement, and giving him a taste of life of comfort he never knew.This is basically the premise of Francois Ozon's "Potiche" which we caught in DVD format recently. It is based on a theater piece, probably one of those light comedies that are much loved by the French. The transfer to the screen is done with a look to the past, as only Mr. Ozon could have pulled and yet he opened the play in ways that show his intelligence toward the original material written for the stage by Pierre Barrillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy.Mr. Ozon brings two of the most iconic stars of France to appear together in "Potiche". Catherine Deneuve is the embodiment of a star, if ever there was one. Gerard Depardieu is also seen as the man who once had a torrid affair with Suzanne. Fabrice Luchini is Robert Pujol, the lucky man that married a trophy wife. The sublime Karin Viard is wonderful as Nadege, Robert's long suffering secretary with whom he has been having a long affair. Jeremie Renier and Judith Godreche complete the Pujol family.It is clear the message of "Potiche" is a feminist one. Suzanne, who led a somewhat serene life must act quickly if she wants to save her father's business from everything her husband Robert could not do himself. In the process she clearly shows a talent for business as well as politics. The best scene in the film shows Ms. Deneuve and Mr. Depardieu in a night club dancing something out of the disco era.

The French 70s. Factory occupations, managers being locked up, strikes and a strong communist party.This umbrella factory manager doesn't have an easy life, but he takes his revenge in mistreating his trophy wife, the "Potiche". She gets her revenge to, when the manager gets a heart attack, including renewed connection with her old lover, the communist mayor.The problem is the acting. Dépardieu is doing the same character he has done during too many movies now and Deneuve is not trustworthy. When French movie makers try to show us people in different states of being ridiculous, they seldom succeed. This is not 1977, it's a failed try to reborn it in 2011.

François Ozon's "Potiche" combines the labor movement with women's lib. It stars Catherine Deneuve as housewife Suzanne, whose husband Robert (Fabrice Luchini) owns an umbrella factory in 1977 France. When the workers go on strike and take Robert hostage, Suzanne has to negotiate with communist leader Maurice Babin (Gérard Depardieu) for his release...which leads to her taking leadership of the company! Along with this, the movie shows other things. Both of Suzanne and Robert's children have ended up on opposite ends of the political spectrum, while Suzanne and Maurice have a history of their own, and Robert has no qualms about the prospect of outsourcing the jobs to Tunisia, where he can pay cheaper wages. There's even a song early in the movie with a surprising lyric at the end! But overall, even though "Potiche" is not the best movie ever made, it's still a good look at the changing mores in the late '70s, with input from all sides. Definitely one that I enjoyed (and that I recommend).Also starring Karin Viard, Judith Godrèche and Jérémie Renier.

This sophisticated and witty comedy about business, politics and the dynamics of a dysfunctional family was the opening night attraction at this year's French Film Festival, and it is a crowd pleaser. Catherine Deneuve finds one of her best roles for some time here as Suzanne, a stay at home sixty-something woman who is married to the scheming and power hungry Robert (Fabrice Luchini), who runs the family umbrella factory with an iron fist. When the workers go on strike and take Robert hostage, Suzanne steps in to negotiate a truce. No longer willing to sit at home and play the trophy wife, Suzanne takes over the running of the business. She employs her two children to help with the day to day operations. And she even wins over Robert's secretary/mistress (Karin Viard) as a loyal ally to help implement some changes to the business. But that is just the start, and sets the scene for some unexpected complications in the third act. Potiche is based on a popular French farce written by Jean-Pierre Gredy, and Francois Ozon directs the material with unusual restraint, capturing the tone of those screwball comedies popular in the 60's and 70's. He makes the most of the 70's retro style settings and kitsch. Deneuve has appeared in several of Ozon's films, but this is her first appearance since 8 Women nearly a decade ago. She lends her luminous presence to the film, and brings a hidden strength, fire, intelligence, warmth and passion to her performance as the frustrated and sheltered housewife no longer willing to sit at home. In a smaller supporting role as a communist-leaning politician and former flame of Suzanne's, Gerard Depardieu has a twinkle in his eye and brings a light tough to the role. Both Deneuve and Depardieu are stalwarts of French cinema and the scenes they share together crackle with nostalgic touches of their film history. Luchini is good at playing weaselly, sleazy and unsympathetic characters, and he is very good here. Potiche is lightweight and frothy comedy with broad appeal.