Le divorce (2003)

French vs. American social customs and behaviors are observed in a story about an American visiting her Frenchman-wed sister in Paris.

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Diane Johnson (novel), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay),

Stars:

Kate Hudson, Jean-Marie Lhomme, Naomi Watts

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Hudson	...	Isabel Walker
Jean-Marie Lhomme	...	Immigration Officer
Naomi Watts	...	Roxeanne de Persand
Esmée Buchet-Deàk	...	Gennie de Persand
Jean-Jacques Pivert	...	Talkative Shopkeeper
Melvil Poupaud	...	Charles-Henri de Persand
Catherine Samie	...	Madame Florian
Samuel Labarthe	...	Antoine de Persand
Leslie Caron	...	Suzanne de Persand
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Edgar Cosset
Nathalie Richard	...	Charlotte de Persand
Samuel Gruen	...	de Persand Child
Peter Wyckoff	...	de Persand Child
Sandrel Lonnoy	...	Maid
Glenn Close	...	Olivia Pace

Storyline

French vs. American social customs and behaviors are observed in a story about an American visiting her Frenchman-wed sister in Paris.

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Plot Keywords:

american | french | painting | puppy | murder | 

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Taglines:

A comedy of manners...both good and bad.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight Pictures Merchant Ivory Production

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

29 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divorcio a la francesa

Filming Locations:

Café de Flore - 172 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$66,323 (South Africa) (12 December 2003)

Gross:

$66,323 (South Africa) (12 December 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merchant Ivory Productions, Radar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The painting sold before Roxy's LaTour is Claude-Joseph Vernet's "La Nuit, au Port au Clair de Lune", which is in the Louvre's permanent collection.

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Goofs

When Isabel gets out of the taxi the driver closes the back, but when Charles-Henri hands the driver his bag the back is open again.

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Quotes

Olivia Pace: Today, they are victms, tomorrow, who knows? Because the world is ruled by hawks and arms dealers and minority phobias.

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Connections

References Prêt-à-Porter (1994)

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Soundtracks

"L'Anamour"
(End title)
Sung by Jane Birkin
Written by Serge Gainsbourg
Arranged by Bruno Maman and Patrick Goraguer
(c) Ed. Bagatelle / Melody Nelson Publishing
(p) 1996 Mercury (France)
With the permission of Universal Music Projets Spéciaux France

User Reviews

Not THAT Bad!

The performances are terrific, Kate Hudson proves that she is the actress that Goldie Hawn never was, and it is always good to see Leslie Caron looking her age and looking great. Now, the matter of the plot has been raised and the consensus so far is that it is a bag of clichés dumped into a blender and then poured out on film.

True. But, the book was no great shakes either and the screenplay simply has not risen above its origins.

I enjoyed Le Divorce for its cynicism and its predictability, frankly. It is nice every now and then to see a movie that elicits a sour chuckle rather than a guffaw or a shriek, and this is one of them.