Nathalie... (2003)

Nathalie is the name a Parisian prostitute assumes for a special mission or "private investigation." She is engaged in this unusual and secretive task by a professional, upper-middle-class ... See full summary »

Director:

Anne Fontaine

Writers:

Philippe Blasband (original idea), Jacques Fieschi,

Stars:

Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fanny Ardant	...	Catherine
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Nathalie / Marlène
Gérard Depardieu	...	Bernard
Wladimir Yordanoff	...	François
Judith Magre	...	La mère de Catherine
Rodolphe Pauly	...	Le fils
Évelyne Dandry	...	La patronne du bar
Ari Boulogne	...	L'homme d'un soir (as Ari Päffgen)
Aurore Auteuil	...	La patiente de Catherine
Idit Cebula	...	Ghislaine
Sasha Rucavina	...	Marianne (as Sacha Rukavina)
Macha Polikarpova	...	Ingrid
Marie Adam	...	La secrétaire médicale
Sophie Séfériadès	...	Une autre patiente
Serge Onteniente	...	L'agent immobilier (as Serge Onteniente-Boutleroff)

Storyline

Nathalie is the name a Parisian prostitute assumes for a special mission or "private investigation." She is engaged in this unusual and secretive task by a professional, upper-middle-class wife who fears that her husband is unfaithful to her. Nathalie has to seduce the clueless husband and regularly report all details of her relationship with him, including his most intimate sexual preferences in bed. Nathalie is stunning, charming, and cunning. Can Nathalie and her reports to the mistrustful wife be trusted? Is the middle aged husband indeed unfaithful?

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | sex | cell phone | gynecologist | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

Can you ever control another person's sexuality?

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

KOCH Lorber Films

Country:

France Spain

Language:

French

Release Date:

7 January 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Nathalie X

Filming Locations:

France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,351 (USA) (14 April 2006)

Gross:

$20,838 (USA) (5 May 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

France 2 Cinéma, DD Productions, Vértigo Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Catherine: Jealousy, for men, it's a reflex!

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Connections

Features The Tide of Life (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Good Looking Blues"
Written by Guy Fixsen and Margaret Fiedler
Performed by Laika
Published by Chrysalis Music Ltd

User Reviews

A smart, mature and SOPHISTICATED MOVIE for adults!

The cast of this film includes French heavyweights Gerard Depardieu, Emmanuelle Beart and Fanny Ardant. That's like getting Tom Hanks, Gwyneth Paltrow and Joan Allen in the same movie.

I'm American but my girlfriend is French so I'm used to watching French movies. What I like about "Nathalie" versus an American equivalent like Adrian Lyne's "Unfaithful" (which itself was a remake of an older French original called "La femme infidele") is that there is no gloss, no silly special effects, just real drama and natural acting.

I don't usually like Depardieu simply because he's in every other French movie that comes out here in France, but I wasn't disappointed with him in this one. He played the part to a T.

Emmanuelle Beart, who is possibly the most beautiful living French actress, brings depth to her character. She doesn't overdo the part at all and she plays it with such coolness and sophistication. The best performance though would have to be Fanny Ardant's. Hers was the most subtle. I also like the fact that she works as a gynecologist in this movie, because later on, you'll see the connection this has in the plot, which the director brilliantly ties together.

My girlfriend claims she already predicted the twist ending, but I admit I didn't see it coming. I'm not so sure it has an obvious moral but I would say that it is a great commentary on appearances, manipulation in relationships and the unspoken arrangement couples have with each other. I definitely recommend this rare mature movie.