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Catherine Deneuve and Director François Ozon (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Joelle (Judith Godrèche) and Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

The Pujols, Nadège and Maurice Babin (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Joelle (Judith Godrèche), Laurent (Jérémie Renier), Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve) and Nadège (Karin Viard) (Courtesy of Music Box)

Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) and Maurice Babin (Gérard Depardieu) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Potiche (Trophy Wife)

directed by François Ozon
starring Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard, Judith Godrèche, Jérémie Renier

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”).

Awards

Nominated for four Césars (France’s equivalent of the Academy Awards):

Best Actress (Catherine Deneuve)
Best Supporting Actress (Karin Viard)
Best Adapted Screenplay (François Ozon)
Best Costume Design

Official Selection – Venice Film Festival 2010
Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival 2010

Press Reactions

With a frothy, sophisticated, quick-witted script, Mr. Ozon’s film follows in the tradition of the American screwball comedies of the 1940s. And the transformation of Suzanne …is a joy to behold in one of the most finely tuned, raciest and most gripping performances of Ms. Deneuve’s career. – The New York Times
Delightfully empowering and relevant, Deneuve gets her best role in years, and she plays it to the hilt. – New York Observer
A tremendously elegant piece of fun… – The Guardian