Saturday, March 9, 2013

Gilles' Wife 2004



     Elisa struggles in her marriage to husband Gilles in this film set in 1930’s France.  Gilles works at a steel mill, Elisa takes care of their twin daughters.  She tirelessly cooks and cleans.  Elisa is worried that Gilles is too interested in her flirtatious and attractive younger sister, Victorine.  Her fears are confirmed when the family goes to a local carnival, Gilles dances with Victorine and becomes enraged when another man dances with her.  Elisa is expecting another child which is a complication for her.
     Devos uses minimal dialogue, body language and facial expressions to portray the long-suffering Elisa.  I think it would be a good idea to bring back public punishment in the stocks for both Gilles and Victorine!!  I would not go quietly into the background but give both of them an excellent public thrashing if I thought punishment in the stocks not enough!!  The ending is a surprise and unexpected?  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Drama directed by Frederic Fonteyne with Emmanuelle Devos, Clovis Cornillac, Laura Smet, Alice Verlinden, Chole Verlinden, Colette Emmanuelle, Gil Lagaly.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, 6.9 out of 10, 82% critic 73% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

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