Gemma Bovery (2014)

Martin, an ex-Parisian well-heeled hipster passionate about Gustave Flaubert who settled into a Norman village as a baker, sees an English couple moving into a small farm nearby. Not only ... See full summary »

Director:

Anne Fontaine

Writers:

Pascal Bonitzer (screenplay), Anne Fontaine (screenplay)

Stars:

Fabrice Luchini, Gemma Arterton, Jason Flemyng

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fabrice Luchini	...	Martin Joubert
Gemma Arterton	...	Gemma Bovery
Jason Flemyng	...	Charlie Bovery
Isabelle Candelier	...	Valérie Joubert
Niels Schneider	...	Hervé de Bressigny
Mel Raido	...	Patrick
Elsa Zylberstein	...	Wizzy
Pip Torrens	...	Rankin
Kacey Mottet Klein	...	Julien Joubert (as Kacey Mottet-Klein)
Edith Scob	...	Madame de Bressigny
Philippe Uchan	...	Docteur Rivière
Pascale Arbillot	...	La nouvelle voisine
Marie-Bénédicte Roy	...	Mme Rivière
Christian Sinniger	...	Producteur de calva 1
Pierre Alloggia	...	Producteur de calva 2

Storyline

Martin, an ex-Parisian well-heeled hipster passionate about Gustave Flaubert who settled into a Norman village as a baker, sees an English couple moving into a small farm nearby. Not only are the names of the new arrivals Gemma and Charles Bovery, but their behavior also seems to be inspired by Flaubert's heroes.

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Plot Keywords:

cheating wife | sex on couch | cell phone | character name as title | big ass | 

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Taglines:

Can life really imitate art?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gemma Arterton learned to speak French for the film with the help of her French boyfriend Franklin Ohannessian, who also worked on the production. She didn't speak a word of French when she was cast in the film.

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Goofs

Martin believes that his next neighbor is Russian, but she's really from Rouen. When he meets Madame Mercier he's so surprised by her fluent French that he asks where she learned it. "At school like everyone else" she misleadingly replies, when in fact she would've learned her native tongue as a small child from her parents.

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Quotes

Martin Joubert: [on secretly observing Gemma seeing a local] This will only end badly
Martin Joubert: There is a moment when life imitates art

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Connections

References Call of Duty (2003)

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Soundtracks

Au Cimetière
Music Composed and orchestrated by Bruno Coulais
(p) 2014 Albertine Productions - Ciné-@ - Gaumont. Under Exclusive License to Milan Entertainment, Inc.
© Milan Records

User Reviews

Crusty baguette meets a tempting tart

'Gemma Bovery' is a clever re-working of 'Madame Bovary', Flaubert's 19th century literary masterpiece about the amorous adventures of a provincial doctor's wife. This contemporary version begins with a bookish baker observing the arrival of a London couple in his Normandy town. He immediately becomes obsessed with the lovely Gemma, and starts seeing parallels to his favorite novel after he catches sight of her flirting with an aristocratic law student outside his shop. When the doughy merchant deduces the affairs of 'la belle Anglaise' are spiraling towards disaster, he attempts to save her from the sad fate of the fictional heroine, but his interference only increases the complications of her love life.

Director Anne Fontaine's film is nicely balanced between comedy and drama, tending towards the latter, although the end product is closer to a fluffy confection than a heavyweight main course. Gemma Arterton's piquant performance in the lead role holds the film together, as her straying spouse remains a sympathetic character despite the infidelities. Their work is complemented by the entire cast - especially Fabrice Luchini who turns in a satisfyingly starchy portrayal of the busybody bread-maker - along with some luscious cinematography of the fertile French countryside and the mouth-watering Ms Arterton.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Hungary]

Country:

France UK

Language:

French English

Release Date:

10 September 2014 (France)

Also Known As:

Gemma Bovery

Filming Locations:

Normandy, France

Box Office

Budget:

EUR9,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,095, 31 May 2015

Gross USA:

$191,533

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,644,525

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albertine Productions, Ciné@, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1