Potiche Review
By David Kempler
Deneuve still charms and surprises
It's a nice feeling sometimes to be fooled while watching a film. In fact, François Ozon's "Potiche" had me laughing at its ineptitude before I figured out that I was the idiot who wasn't getting the joke. After recovering from my initial embarrassment, I settled in and watched a thoroughly delightful and silly French comedy.
The setting is 1977, and we first see Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) wandering a particularly lovely woodsy setting, sweetly cooing at the beauty of nature. The lovely wildlife and fauna give a feel of almost pure serenity. Adding in the absolutely serenely happy Deneuve made it feel almost too perfect. That mood continues as we see her at home, where she is the "perfect" housewife to Robert (Fabrice Luchini), a boorish and wealthy businessman that could not possibly be less likeable. To Robert, and just about everyone else, Suzanne is a
potiche, which roughly translates as a decorative object. Robert cheats on her and is unbelievably uncaring about his wife, yet she smiles mindlessly through it all. One can't help but have the impression that she is an idiot. An idiot, she ain't.
Everything changes when the workers at the Pujol umbrella factory go on strike. Robert's health takes a downturn and, unbelievably, Suzanne finds herself in charge of the factory temporarily. The incompetent Suzanne seems ill-equipped for the job but offers up countless surprises, some of which pertain to her personal life, as well.
The striking workers turn to Maurice Babin (Gérard Depardieu), a local politician and communist party member, who we learn once knew Suzanne a long, long time ago. Their scenes together are some of the most rewarding ones in "Potiche". These two professionals virtually dance through their light but ultimately provocative moments. It's a pleasure to watch them together.
"Potiche" is most assuredly worth your time. By the time it was over it was a restrained smile-fest that made you absolutely adore and respect Suzanne. Ozon has found a pitch-perfect way of presenting a wistful view of men, women, relationships, and most importantly, restrained and reserved power that people can possess. "Potiche" is a very pretty thing to behold, but it's also more, without ever a single moment of undue heaviness. Sheer pleasure.
