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, Naomi Watts, Stockard Channing

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

The differences in legalities and cultural mores of French and Americans regarding sex, love, marriage, religion and family bonds are presented through the interactions of two families related by marriage. American Isabel Walker heads to Paris to visit her half-sister, poet Roxeanne de Persand, who is early in the pregnancy of her second child. Isabel arrives to find that Roxy's French husband, Charles-Henri de Persand, has just left Roxy, the sisters both eventually further learning that it is because he has fallen in love with another woman, who is herself married. Roxy and Charles-Henri deal with their break-up, which Roxy does not want but must face the legal consequences of, including determining the ownership of what may be a valuable French painting that has been casually in the Walker family for years, but which Roxy has had in her possession since she got married. Meanwhile, Isabel begins to explore all that France has to offer, which includes concurrently embarking on sexual...

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Plot Keywords:

american | french | love | sex | france | 

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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 Productions [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

29 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divorcio a la francesa

Filming Locations:

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$516,834, 10 August 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$9,074,550, 26 October 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merchant Ivory Productions, Radar Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Isabel is setting up chairs at the poetry reading and is confronted by Tellman, there are copies of "Le Divorce" by Diane Johnson on the bookshelf behind them.

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Goofs

When Isabel and Roxy are walking towards the la Flore to meet Roxy's husband, Isabel's scarf is hanging from her pocket. When they walk into la Flore she is wearing it around her neck.

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Quotes

Roxy: You shouldn't accept expensive gifts from a man.
Isabel: Why?
Roxy: Because it puts you in a position of having to do what he wants.
Isabel: I'd do it anyway.

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Connections

References The Red Balloon (1956)

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Soundtracks

Quelqu'un m'a dit
Sung by Carla Bruni
Lyrics by Carla Bruni and Leos Carax
Music by Carla Bruni
(c) 2002 Free Demo
With the permission of Naïve

User Reviews

Just another movie...

you wonder why they ever spent money to make. It wasn't terrible, but not much happens. It didn't entertain me. Isabel goes to Paris to visit her pregnant sister, Roxanne. Upon arriving, she sees Roxanne's husband leaving her. So, she tries to cheer her sister up and has an affair with a married relative of the husband. He buys her an expensive purse and everyone knows they're hooking up. A side plot involves a painting that belongs to Roxanne's family. She doesn't want her husband to get it in the divorce. They decide to sell it and find out it's worth millions. So, now the 2 sisters have some money to start the new chapter in their lives.

I don't think it was a romance film and it sure wasn't funny. I would describe it as bland.

FINAL VERDICT: It may put you to sleep, so I wouldn't recommend it unless you are suffering from insomnia.