Madame Bovary (1991)

Gustav Flaubert's celebrated novel of obsessive ardor undergoes a dazzling retrofit for the screen, courtesy of French neurosis-master Claude Chabrol. The basic story (a woman's selfish quest for happiness ends up obliterating all she holds dear) may be the same, but Chabrol's talent for biting through to the dark marrow of passion makes this a startling experience, even for people familiar with the source material or the numerous other cinematic adaptations. Casting Isabelle Huppert in the title role (she's at least a decade older than the standard conception of this willfully tragic heroine) was a potentially risky gambit that paid off big; underneath her glorious surface lies a startling foundation of brilliant ice. The same can be said about this stunning film. Viewers intrigued by this potent actress-director pairing may also want to check out The Story of Women and the wonderful La Ceremonie. In French with English subtitles. --Andrew Wright Amazon.com

Every sin demands a prize!

Madame Bovary is one of the most priceless examples of the Romantic literature that stands out among a group of related works in other countries. As a matter of fact, you may include Anna Karenina in Russia, Effie Briest in Germany and Tess in England.

The common denominator has to do with the lack of satisfaction, the ceaseless search of new experiences, far beyond the hover of social conventionalisms, boredom and the febrile circumstance of breaking the chains of the tradition, it's far to be an apology to adultery, it's the final result of the Romantic view of the feminine universe, where the women just began to realize the importance of them as human being and not simply as an object for sexual enjoyment.

So, this adaptation made by Claude Chabrol, takes into account this scream of desperation, loneliness, boredom and hopeless about the dreams and unsatisfied desires of simple woman, curious but endowed of a strong character who realizes her vision of the world is beyond the approach of her weak husband.

She will decide - regardless the social conventionalisms - to follow her bliss and her pursuit for happiness, no matter the consequences she had to pay after the scandal is reveled. But that fatal decision has its prize, and soon the ambition, caprices will demand its counterpart, that slow but irreversibly will lead her to a tragic final.

But what I mostly enjoyed of the movie was the way Chabrol carved in relief these little sins of the social environment, whose moral corruption and ethic decay bright with nasty intensity.

Isabelle Huppert, shows us once more why she was the perfect actress to perform this role, the camerawork and the theatrical feature of the play may be appreciated in its horrid intensity and superb realism.

Don't miss this classic film, frequently included among the most representative ones any time. In fact, the prestigious "Facets" included this one among the best 600 foreign films ever made, and that means by itself a remarkable opinion.

Go for this one and enjoy it over and over. It's a masterpiece.
June 30, 2007

The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers

Not knowing the original source material by Flaubert allowed me to view this 1991 adaptation for the presented movie itself.In a nutshell,the script was extremely choppy and clunky( like a figure skater who proceeds from jump to jump with no connecting movement),the "passion" of Bovary and her "lovers" was positively passionLESS(where did these people learn to kiss???),and Isabelle Huppert's interpretation of the title character made Scarlett O'Hara seem more like Mother Theresa of Calcutta!The only character that summoned any sympathy from me was Dr.Bovary who was hopelessly devoted to his icy,selfish,narcissistic wife.
I watched this film because the current Golden Globe nominated movie LITTLE CHILDREN starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson is based out of the novel MADAME BOVARY and is far more interesting with it's tight and seemless script,flawless acting and direction.Having seen LITTLE CHILDREN,MADAME BOVARY seemed simply dull,lifeless and especially lacking in passion.I have never seen such awful and ridiculous "love scenes" than the ones in this film.For a French film that was to be somewhat scandalous, there most certainly was no Ooo-La-La!
Pretty costumes were the only things that remotely made this period piece watchable. January 17, 2007

Madame Bovary DVD

A must-see movie to learn the about perils of greed. Excellent protrayal by Isabelle Hupert. Best if you know French January 3, 2007

One of the best......

This is one of my top favourite adaptions of this life changing story.

They stuck well to the book and the "feel" of Emma, the locales and the motivations. It seems a lot of adapations don't do that.

Huppert I thought was perfect to play Emma. She had just the right self-centered, clueless passion. April 25, 2006

Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!

The French have made many magnificent historical films, for example Ridicule, Colonel Chabert & Queen Margot. But this one is really awful. The acting is stagy. The script is choppy. Huppert, although in her late 30s here, looks at least 50. She's supposed to be a naive young impulsive country doctor's wife. But Huppert is not young, she's not country & she is definitely not naive. She's just very boring.

October 23, 2004

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