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In nineteenth-century France, the romantic daughter of a country squire marries a dull country doctor. To escape boredom, she throws herself into love affairs with a suave local landowner and a law student, and runs up ruinous debts.

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Gustave Flaubert (based on the novel by), Claude Chabrol (adaptation)
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Huppert ... Emma Bovary
Jean-François Balmer ... Le docteur Charles Bovary
Christophe Malavoy ... Rodolphe Boulanger
Jean Yanne ... M. Homais - le pharmacien
Lucas Belvaux ... Léon Dupuis
Christiane Minazzoli Christiane Minazzoli ... La veuve Lefançois
Jean-Louis Maury Jean-Louis Maury ... Merchant Lheureux
Florent Gibassier ... Hippolyte
Jean-Claude Bouillaud Jean-Claude Bouillaud ... Le père Rouault - un paysan - le père d'Emma
Sabeline Campo Sabeline Campo ... Felicité
Yves Verhoeven Yves Verhoeven ... Justin
Marie Mergey Marie Mergey ... La mère Bovary - la mère de Charles
François Maistre François Maistre ... Lieuvain - le conseiller de la préfecture
Thomas Chabrol ... Le vicomte
Phillippe Abitol Phillippe Abitol
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Storyline

In nineteenth-century France, the romantic daughter of a country squire (Emma Rouault) marries a dull country doctor (Charles Bovary). To escape boredom, she throws herself into love affairs with a suave local landowner (Rodolphe Boulanger) and a law student (Leon Dupuis), and runs up ruinous debts. This film version closely follows Flaubert's novel and includes most of the famous scenes, such as the wedding, the ball, the agricultural fair, the operation on the clubfoot, and the opera in Rouen. Written by English Showalter <showalte@crab.rutgers.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In its original French version, one of the masculine voices overheard by Emma during the great Bail sequence is director Claude Chabrol's voice saying: "Mais qu'il en soit fait selon votre desir, ma chere... Lucien!". See more »

Goofs

During the ball, the music is "The Blue Danube" by Johan Strauss, composed in 1866. However, the action is taking place in 1837. See more »

Quotes

Le docteur Charles Bovary: [after his wife's death] Fate's the one to blame!
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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, "à ma mère" appears onscreen below Isabelle Huppert's name. See more »

Connections

Version of Madame Bovary (1947) See more »

Soundtracks

Alexander Quadrille, op 33
Music by Johann Strauss (as J. Strauss)
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User Reviews

 
The Definitive Bovary?
6 July 2016 | by gavin6942See all my reviews

In nineteenth-century France, the romantic daughter of a country squire (Emma Rouault) marries a dull country doctor (Charles Bovary). To escape boredom, she throws herself into love affairs with a suave local landowner (Rodolphe Boulanger) and a law student (Leon Dupuis), and runs up ruinous debts. This film version closely follows Flaubert's novel and includes most of the famous scenes, such as the wedding, the ball, the agricultural fair, the operation on the clubfoot, and the opera in Rouen.

"Madame Bovary" was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as for the Academy Award for Costume Design. It was also entered into the 17th Moscow International Film Festival where Isabelle Huppert won the award for Best Actress. As she should.

As with any great work of literature, this story has been adapted again and again. But I might have to say this is the definitive version, almost epic in its length and breadth, and a solid attempt to stay true to the novel. Typically I favor earlier in carnations, and by 1991 there were many... but this now is the one any future version must be measured against.


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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 December 1991 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Madame Bovary See more »

Filming Locations:

Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure, France See more »

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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$236,113, 29 December 1991

Gross USA:

$1,942,423

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,942,423
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »

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