Potiche

We live in a world where women run companies. However there was a time when they were not considered suitable to do jobs like this. This film takes a comedic look at one of those times.

Francois Ozon is a director whose films I came to a bit late. I've seen most of the films he has released in Australian cinemas over the past few years. He is an excellent director who works in a variety of genres. He is excellent at making comedies like this one. I think he has used the sexist attitude from the past to show how absurd it was to not let women run a company and have positions of power. I think it helps that the character of Suzanne is a strong woman to begin with as it may not have worked or had a different outcome if she was played as a ditzy character like some women are though of as being. Suzanne has been bought up I think to be a housewife and support her husband from home. So when she gets a taste of power she wants more. I think a lot of the humour in the film comes from the absurdity of how silly it is that Suzanne is treated so badly. She even seems to accept the fact that her husband Robert sleeps with other woman. It is like she is afraid to upset her life by upsetting her husband. The tone is very much farcical and is played in a bit of a theatrical way. I also got the feeling that the film could have been a musical. There are a few songs that play like musical numbers which was quite pleasant.

Catherine Deneuve is a mature actress who can still give a brilliant performance. A legend that is perfect in this role. She brings a great deal of maturity to her performance and you know that she has possibly dealt with a situation like this. Her legendary co-star Gerard Depardieu is equally as good. His role is more a supporting one and not as big but he is still great. They two of them have a wonderful dance number in the film. Fabrice Luchini is nicely nasty as Suzanne's husband Robert who treats her quite badly. Karin Viard is also good as Robert's secretary who has a change of heart after working for Suzanne.

Another great French comedy that takes a lighthearted look at a time when women were not treated very well. But is still empowering to women and shows that despite living in a tough time you can still achieve greatness.