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 | love | typing | female nudity | 1950s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality

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:

A Datilógrafa

Filming Locations:

4 Rue du Lerre, Bacilly, France

Box Office

Budget:

€13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,690, 6 September 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$175,256, 18 October 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Productions du Trésor,Compagnie Cinématographique Européenne, La,France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

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

Le Tango des Illusions
Written by Benjamin Edward N Osborne
Arranged by Guy Bertret and Roger Desbois
Performed by Jacqueline Boyer
Phonogram 1962 Capitol Music
Copyright Mason Music Ltd.
Courtesy of EMI Music France and Moon Media Inc.

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.