Populaire (2012)

1958. Rose is a terrible secretary but a demon typist. Her handsome boss resolves to turn her into the fastest girl in the world.

Director:

Régis Roinsard

Writers:

Régis Roinsard (scenario), Daniel Presley (scenario)

Stars:

Romain Duris, Féodor Atkine, Déborah François

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Romain Duris	...	Louis Échard
Déborah François	...	Rose Pamphyle
Bérénice Bejo	...	Marie Taylor
Shaun Benson	...	Bob Taylor
Mélanie Bernier	...	Annie Leprince-Ringuet
Nicolas Bedos	...	Gilbert Japy
Miou-Miou	...	Madeleine Échard (as Miou Miou)
Eddy Mitchell	...	Georges Échard
Frédéric Pierrot	...	Jean Pamphyle
Féodor Atkine	...	André Japy
Marius Colucci	...	Lucien Échard
Emeline Bayart	...	Jacqueline Échard
Dominique Reymond	...	Madame Shorofsky
Yannik Landrein	...	Léonard Echard
Nastassja Girard	...	Evelyne Échard (as Nastassia Girard)

Storyline

Spring, 1958. 21-year-old Rose Pamphyle lives with her grouchy widower father who runs the village store. Engaged to the son of the local mechanic, she seems destined for the quiet, drudgery-filled life of a housewife. But that's not the life Rose longs for. When she travels to Lisieux in Normandy, where charismatic insurance agency boss Louis Echard is advertising for a secretary, the ensuing interview is a disaster. But Rose reveals a special gift - she can type at extraordinary speed. Unwittingly, the young woman awakens the dormant sports fan in Louis. If she wants the job she'll have to compete in a speed typing competition. Whatever sacrifices Rose must make to reach the top, Louis declares himself her trainer. He'll turn her into the fastest girl not only in the country, but in the world! But a love of sport doesn't always mix well with love itself ...

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Plot Keywords:

typewriter | one word title | singing along | year 1958 | boy | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie features a business machines company named "ICM"; they couldn't use "IBM" real name.

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Goofs

When Louis smashes the record playing "Le tango des illusions", it shatters as a 78 rpm shellac record. The label features a variant of Columbia Records' "Magic Notes" design as a 12-inch record. However, Jacqueline Boyer's "Le tango des illusions" was never released as a 78. The song was issued in France in 1962 by Columbia Records as part of a vinyl 7-inch EP under "Le pont vers le soleil". 78s had largely been phased out by 1960.

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Quotes

Rose Pamphyle: I may be a "klutz," but not a cripple!

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Connections

Referenced in Rock'n Roll (2017)

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Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
Composed by James Pierpont
Performed by Johnny Mercer
Phonogram 1944 - remaster 1996 Capitol Records, Inc
Copyright Public Domain
Courtesy of EMI Music France

User Reviews

Making the incredibly mundane interesting....

My daughter recently saw this film at a festival in Philadelphia and insisted I should see it as well. Fortunately, it's now streaming on Netflix and I got a chance to see it myself today.

The subject matter for this film is incredibly mundane--so mundane and dull that it's a wonder that the film would hold your interest. However, it managed very well. Who would have thought a film about a woman training to be a speed-typing world champion could be so much fun? Plus, while I am not sure about this, I assume there never has been any sort of international speed-typing competition and I KNOW if there had been one, they wouldn't have been celebrities like the folks in this film. However, I kind of liked this, as it was a bit silly and added to the kooky charm of the film.

The movie begins with Rose (Déborah François) leaving her small town and going to the city to get a job as a secretary. However, despite being able to type remarkably fast using the hunt and peck method, she isn't a very good secretary. However, her grouchy boss, Louis (Romain Duris) hires her anyway, as he's VERY impressed by her typing. However, it's soon obvious he's not that interested in her being a secretary and much more interested in training her to be a speed-typing champion. He moves her into his home, cooks for her and coaches her unmercifully--all to make her a champion. However, despite Rose winning competition after competition, Louis never acts happy--and keeps driving her. Rose is adorable and sweet, and yet Louis is almost machine-like in his detachment. What's next? See this strange and quirky film.

The best thing about the film is its design. I love the late 1950s look and unlike some period films, this one tried very, very hard to get the look right. I also loved Rose as a characters. But the film also had problems. Despite liking it very much, Louis' character is too unlikable--and her falling for him (like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady") made no sense. Sure, he's handsome but he's also incredibly selfish and under-emotive. Additionally, the film is pure formula throughout--the only difference are all the nice trappings and nice way the director handled the familiar themes. Overall, a great date movie and a nice rom-com that isn't too demanding. I would like to give the film a 7.5, though IMDb won't allow that. I enjoyed it a lot even with its clichés (such as how Rose's father behaves late in the film).

By the way, I looked it up and there really was a Japy typewriter company in France--it was not created for the film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French English German

Release Date:

6 September 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Populaire

Filming Locations:

4 Rue du Lerre, Bacilly, France

Box Office

Budget:

EUR13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,690, 8 September 2013

Gross USA:

$179,091

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,698,385

Company Credits

Production Co:

Trésor Films, Compagnie Cinématographique Européenne, La, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1