MFFF MOVIE REVIEW: GEMMA BOVERY



41/2/5

Life imitates art in this quirky film based on a comic book. Martin is a baker, and an intellectual from a big city who had chosen a quiet life in Province. But it is shattered when an English couple moves next door. Their names are Charles and Gemma Bovery and for Martin it is a sign. Madame Bovery is his favourite book, and when Gemma's life falls into the pattern of the famous heroine, Martin is ready to help. But is he helping Gemma, or just fuels his obsession?

GEMA BOVERY is a short and focused comedy with a touch of a dark humour. It holds together mainly by the performance of Fabrice Luchini, whose desires and longing for the real romantic adventure is written all over his  face. Gemma Arterton does her best, and is lovely to look at. There's a lot of food on screen, mostly bread, and there's a magical atmosphere of Province. The France here is  guidebook perfect and the characters are to match.

While the story is somewhat predictable, it has many, funny moments. Gemma herself does not look like a heroine from some classical book. She simply lives, stumbles, makes mistakes, tries to correct them and makes the new ones. Martin is shown mostly as a voyeur, but the one who has to step up and take part in the action if he wants things to work his his way.

The director Anna Fontaine has created a lavish film and has total control of her story. Keeping it precise and concise she confidently touches upon the things that matter, making serious points without preaching. 

 Deceivingly lighthearted, GEMMA BOVERY will leave a long lasting impression. It is a comedy about love, classic literature and middle age obsessions that could have been made only in France.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KOREAN MOVIE REVIEW: MEMOIR OF A MURDERER

Image
8/10 Byung-su is an elderly veterinarian who has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He has a caring daughter who does all she can to make his life easier, and a policemen friend whose name Byung-su forgets from time to time. He also goes to a poetry club (in order to keep his mind exercised) where a lonely widow makes advances at him. But there’s one thing that sets Byung-su apart from the other senior citizens of his little town – he is a serial killer.  When a new wave of killings begin Byung-su starts to suspect that a young man who is dating his daughter is the culprit. Trying to keep the remains of his memories together Byung-su writes extensive journals. But what if his memories are actually real? Losing his grip on reality he goes head to head with the new serial killer in order to protect the only life he cares about in the world – his daughter’s. Before Dexter came around Koreans had excelled in creating charismatic killers as protagonists of the f...
Read more

We'll End Up Together - Nous Finirons Ensemble (French Movie Review)

Image
10/10 Max has a sixtieth birthday coming up. The problem is he is broke, divorced and depressed. When a group of his best friends show up at his doorstep to help him celebrate, he reluctantly agrees to spend a few days with them, but won’t explain what’s going on in his personal life. When ones darkest moments come, will friendship conquer all? Seven years after the breakout success of the film Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs) comes the long anticipated sequel and it is worth the wait. The success of WE’LL END UP TOGETHER is not in its rather predictable plot, but the chemistry on screen, the characters that we recognise ourselves and our friends in, and the amazing warm atmosphere that makes one believe there’s no problem a good dinner with friends won’t sort out.  Written and directed by much loved French actor and director  Guillaume Canet this movie feels like a welcome return home to those who have seen the original and will also welcome new viewership - t...
Read more

MSFF: DEATH IN BUENOS AIRES (MUERTE EN BUENOS AIRES)

Image
3 1/2 /5 It's year 1980 and we are in Buenos Aires. The wealthy gay man is murdered  and inspector Chaves is on the case. In order to find the culprit he has to plunge into the world of gay nightclubs, drugs and sex. But what is it with the young and handsome officer Gomes, who was the first on the crime scene, and seems to place himself with ease as a mole into a gay community? Is he trying to catch the killer? Or hiding something? As suspicions arise, Chaves is haunted by the feelings he does not understand. Will the fatal attraction to a younger man help him to solve the case, or be his undoing? First time director Natalie Meta is "spot on" on the upbeat atmosphere of the 80s without too much expense. She cleverly uses the pop tunes, over-the-top clothes and many other ingredients to recreate the time. The murder mystery is secondary, and the movie is focused on the relationship between the two men, full of innuendoes and mistrust. The very simple cinema...
Read more