Gemma Arterton who is built along the lines of fellow English lady Jacqueline Bissett at her most buxom (The Deep, 1977) and has much of the same charm, was a real discovery. Fabrice Luchini, one of France's best alĺ around actors, was a pleasure to watch every minute as Joubert, the local master baker and Bovary expert, who is enthralled by the very sexy much younger new neighbor from England.
He is actually as much the center of the fiĺm as Gemma, but familiarity with the original novel by Flaubert is more or less assumed and without a good knowledge of French much of the humor contained in the witty dialogue will be lost on American auds. I found myself to be the only member of the Post House audience chuckling at many points in the picture
Nevertheless, the story itself is gripping, the cinematography gorgeous, and the erotic scenes strapping enough to make this work for higher I.Q. American audiences.
I thought the ending was a little forced -- like the tacked on resolution at the end of a whodunnit murder mystery --but who cares when the rest of the picture was so delectable.
The fragrance of the breads in the frequent boulangerie scenes were so appetising as to make anyone who has ever been to Paris (or Rouen!) want to get back there ASAP.
Overall, a delightful way to spend an evening away from France.
Alex,
The morning after