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 typewriter Rose uses in the shop is an Adler Triumph, a European model which uses the 'AZERTY' keyboard, a popular style used especially among European-based French speakers (as opposed to the English QWERTY). Switzerland and Luxembourg use a variant called 'QWERTZ'.

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Goofs

At around 1h03 there is a speech about the Azerty invention, Azerty disposition is used since the end of the 19th century, mixed also with the Qwerty keyboard in Europe.

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Quotes

Louis Échard: One gift in this world is enough.

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Connections

References Vertigo (1958)

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Soundtracks

Petit Negre
Written by Claude Debussy
Performed by Déborah François
Phonogram Les Productions du Trésor
Copyright Public Domain

User Reviews

Sweet but not too sweet

The last time I went to the movies was for Avatar but walking through yet another snowstorm in Montréal I decided I was up for a light and colourful movie, and didn't care much what the story was about. So Populaire was a pleasant surprise as the premise is fresh and interesting. It's the story of a young and pretty typist so fast on her typewriter that her boss challenges her to win a few typing competitions. So it's like every sports film with the bonus of a love story. The third act is a bit unnecessary and repetitive but the movie is quite adept at walking the fine line between stylish and kitsch. Plus, in it's subtle way, Populaire shows us what it was probably like to be a working girl in the late fifties. The movie works best when focusing on the relationship between the two leads. They are quite charming ( if I were a girl I would sure paint my nails the way she does !). Better than the poor box-office in France led me to believe.

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