Potiche

On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, I went to see the movie Potiche featuring Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Dépardieu and Fabrice Lucini.

The story is about Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve), who is the daughter of a deceased umbrella factory worker. She married into the Pujol family, Robert Pujol (Fabrice Lucini) who now runs the factory. It is 1977 and there is a strike because of the horrible working conditions. Robert Pujol gets taken hostage by the striking workers and gets injured as a result from his experience. Because of his hospitalization, Suzanne Pujol must take over the umbrella factory. Suzanne Pujol is a potiche, or trophy wife, because she doesn't do anything at home. She doesn't have to cook, she doesn't have to clean. She watches TV, she tends to her garden, and her husband doesn't listen to what she has to say.

Once she took over, she sought the advice of Maurice Babin, the mayor and former union leader. She also had an affair with him while she was married. She brought the factory back to working condition, but... Things get complicated... With her former lover, with Robert Pujol who wants his old job back and... All of this makes for a very fun and entertaining movie. I totally enjoyed it and... Jérémie Renier, who plays the son, Laurence Pujol, is eye candy for sure.