Potiche

Potiche

It has been two weeks of daily films with the Hot Docs and the Jewish Film Festival. After seeing so many emotional and serious topics I wanted to see a light hearted film and picked this because it was showing at a good time in my neighborhood.

I was in for a delightful surprise. Of course Catherine Deneuve is reason enough to see this film. She is an excellent actress and still very charming and beautiful although noticeably more middle age. Gerard Depardieu is one of the top actors in France. He has become somewhat of a large ‘teddy bear’ and most unattractive. He and Deneuve are comfortable together and have been in many other films over the years. I can’t help but think that another actor might have been more believable in the part. I found myself laughing whenever he was on screen and not because his part was funny.

Deneuve plays the role of, Susanne, a ‘potiche. (a trophy wife). She does all the right things. She stays home and looks after the household and is always there to comfort her husband and to look after matters. They live in a large house and have all the material things.

Her husband runs a large factory. He is bossy, angry and attracted to his secretary. When the husband becomes ill the wife takes over the factory. There is a strike going on and the workers are angry. She turns the place around with her feminine charms. She negotiates and meets with the workers. Productivity increases and everybody is happy. Well almost everyone. The husband can’t believe that the place is so successful with his wife at the helm. Even her husband’s mistress who is also his secretary becomes supportive of Susanne.

Her children also work for the firm. Her very feminine son provides much humor. He designs new umbrellas that take off. They are colorful and charming I wanted to go out and buy one.

Gerard Depardieu plays the part of Susanne’s former lover. He is currently mayor. He wants the relationship to resume. I have been criticized for telling too much of the ending. I can assure you this ending is delightful.

The story talks about feminism. It deals with shifting roles in a family. It certainly shows the benefits of a communicative leadership rather than an autocratic boss-staff relationship.

Catherine Deneuve has perfect timing and brings a lot of humor and satisfaction to the film. Actually she is the film.