Potiche

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Potiche

R

2011

1h 43m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

117 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In 1977 France, tightfisted factory owner Robert Pujol (Fabrice Luchini) is so shocked when his workers strike for higher wages that he suffers a heart attack. His acquiescent wife, Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve), whose father had founded the factory, takes over management duties during Robert's convalescence. To her own surprise, Suzanne turns out to be a natural leader whose less dictatorial management inspires both her workers and local liberal politician Babin (Gérard Depardieu).

Kimber Myers

The Playlist

08/15/2013

B-

Even though we don't really care about the dialogue or script at times, it's easy--and fun!--to be distracted by the pretty pictures.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

06/17/2011

3/5

Deneuve's combination of dignity and a determined ordinariness is just right, while Depardieu's lovelorn political beast is equally watchable.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

06/17/2011

3/5

Catherine Deneuve is on magnificent form -- singing and dancing! -- in Franois Ozon's comedy of female emancipation in the 1970s.

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Merryn Johns

Curve

05/24/2022

This charming tale of a cosseted French housewife, Suzanne, who takes over her tyrannical husband’s umbrella factory and meets the requests of its mutinous employees, is a tale of feminist awakening -- it’s a war of the classes, and the sexes.

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Popmatters Staff

PopMatters

12/11/2021

Catherine Deneuve embraces absurdity and creates a sharp contrast between her statue-like beauty with the silliness of her setting.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/20/2020

3.5/4.0

Universal enough in its themes and dialogue that it would serve as a great intro to French cinema.

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 06/14/2024

It has great actors playing interesting characters but the film sometimes feels a bit off putting and the comedy is a bit too dry for me

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11/12/2020

Masterful actors having fun and inhaibiting characters like a glove; breezy fun

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chris k

08/30/2020

A film that is entertaining and satirical but is nonetheless just a mediocre work. Catherine Deneuve surely owns the part though!

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05/14/2018

I don't like to give bad reviews but I have to say that this movie was pretty silly and not that entertaining considering the star power. The premise is interesting. I think the moral of the story is don't let anyone else's thoughts of you hold you back to realizing your dreams. You have unlimited potential no matter your circumstances. No real need to see this film

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12/24/2016

The genre pastiche was initially repulsive, especially the cloying music, but I put my trust in Ozon, and he of course steered it in an unexpected direction. Once I got on its weird wavelength I ended up finding it pretty emotionally absorbing and rewarding. It doesn't wink at the audience, or let the audience in on when it's being sincere and when it's being absurd and ironic, and I appreciate that a lot.

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08/01/2016

It's lightweight and at times naïve, but the charm is impossible to resist.

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François Ozon

Director

Catherine Deneuve

Suzanne Pujol

Gérard Depardieu

Maurice Babin

Fabrice Luchini

Robert Pujol

Karin Viard

Nadège

Judith Godrèche

Joëlle

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Synopsis

In 1977 France, tightfisted factory owner Robert Pujol (Fabrice Luchini) is so shocked when his workers strike for higher wages that he suffers a heart attack. His acquiescent wife, Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve), whose father had founded the factory, takes over management duties during Robert's convalescence. To her own surprise, Suzanne turns out to be a natural leader whose less dictatorial management inspires both her workers and local liberal politician Babin (Gérard Depardieu).

Director: François Ozon
Producer: Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer
Screenwriter: François Ozon, Pierre Barillet, Jean-Pierre Grédy
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Goodfellas S.L., Mars Films, Scope Pictures, France 2 Cinéma, Mandarin Films, FOZ
Rating: R (Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 25, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 43m

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