Join Linda Hardy and the rest of Westbank’s aficionados of France who watch a French film at home and then meet at the library to discuss it en français!
The March selection, Potiche (Trophy Wife), is available to view on Kanopy.
In Potiche, it’s 1977 and women’s liberation is in the air but Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve) is still the self-effacing, elegant housewife of wealthy industrialist Robert Pujol (Fabrice Luchini).
Pujol oversees his umbrella factory with an iron fist and is equally tyrannical with his children and & trophy housewife; When the workers go on strike and take Robert hostage, Suzanne steps in to manage the factory. To everyone’s surprise, she proves herself a competent and assertive woman of action. Her new role throws her back in touch with union leader Gerard Depardieu, a romantic fling from the past that still has sparks. When Robert returns from a restful cruise looking to reassert himself, things get complicated. Directed with superb style by François Ozon (“Swimming Pool”) and based on the popular 1970’s French stage play by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy (Cactus Flower).
BAFTA Film Award 2012 Nominee – Best Film Not in the English Language European Film Awards 2011 Audience Award Nominee – Best Film Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists 2011 Silver Ribbon Award Nominee – Best European Director, François Ozon Venice Film Festival 2010 – Official Selection Venic Film Festival 2010 Golden Lion Award Nominee – François Ozon Toronto International Film Festival 2010 – Official Selection