04/09/2010

While the photo of Catherine Deneuve in a red 1970s Adidas tracksuit has already been seen across the world, journalists at the Mostra enjoyed moments of good humour at the screening of Potiche [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a delightful screwball comedy rich with meaning from the ever versatile François Ozon. The title will be released on November 10 in France and November 12 in Italy.

Returning to the themes of 8 Women [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2002), based on a play by Robert Thomas, Ozon wanted to tackle the subject of women’s role in society and politics and decided to adapt Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Grédy’s well-known stage play. "Potiche", which in France denotes a woman who lives in her husband’s shadow (Madame Chirac and lately Ségolène Royal have been described in this way), had been an idea of Ozon for many years. In the end, the director made up his mind to start the film, after realising it had immediate present-day relevance.

Keeping the 1970s setting, with his characteristically authentic costumes and set design, Ozon has updated the play performed on stage by Jacqueline Maillan, with whom many women have identified over the years.

The film is set in Sainte-Gudule, in Northern France, in 1977. Suzanne (Deneuve) is the house-and-garden-obsessed wife of Robert Pujol (a remarkable Fabrice Luchini), the rich owner of an umbrella factory inherited from Suzanne’s father. While his wife writes poetry, talks to squirrels and looks after the grandchildren, Robert cheats on her with his secretary and the women who frequent the Badaboum nightclub.

When the workers, exasperated by the unbridled liberalism of their “boss”, go on strike and even hold him captive (this is the middle of the era of trade union demands), the situation comes to a head: to get her husband freed, Suzanne turns to the mayor and Communist Party deputy Maurice Babin (played by a captivating Gérard Depardieu), who is also an old flame.

After his release, the boss has a heart attack and Suzanne takes over the running of the factory, along with her children Paul (Jérémie Renier) and Joëlle (Judith Godrèche), relaunching it and agreeing to the workers’ demands. There are further misunderstandings and complications, and eventually Suzanne decides to get into politics and stand as an election candidate against her friend and rival Babin: "I’ve managed a factory, I’m surely capable of running France!".

When presenting his film to the press, Ozon said: "I wanted to emphasise the underlying machismo that resurfaced during Sarkozy’s electoral campaign". Deneuve commented: "There have been times in my life when I felt I was hired only for my looks. I would like to think that a film like this one can help women gain greater recognition, especially at work".

(Translated from Italian)