Am I the only one who actually DID ENJOY this movie ? - Le divorce (2003) Discussion

[–] StarENights 16 years ago

No I thought it was wonderful, and absolutely gorgeous.

Personally, I don't think people understood the subtlety of the film and jokes they made. Naomi & Kate were wonderful I agree. So were Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing as the parents.

Everyone seems to dislike how "dark" the film was. All I can say is how is it dark? The perfect happy ending is achieved despite the worst possible things that could happen; what do people want?

There is no reason that "Under the Tuscan Sun" deserves a higher rating and following than Le Divorce. It proves to me that people would rather be placated with an cookie cutter, "feel good" plot and even worse taking culturally stereotypes seriously, vs. subtly making fun of them in Le Divorce. That's not good filmmaking that's pandering to the crowd.

The crying shame of it was that the DVD had absolutely NOTHING about the shoot, the casting, the COSTUMES or anything about where they filmed (lots of people asking about that). At least from a fashion point of view, I have seen many many posts about the clothing the actors wore. They really did not do this movie or the DVD any justice. Imagine if they had included all the "behind the scenes" chapters and extras in the DVD? They would have had at least those interested in Ivory's work, and Francophiles hooked on buying it. Sad.

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[–] syd144 16 years ago

I like it.

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AND77 16 years ago

I agree. The film was released at a time when the U.S.'s ridiculous dislike of anything French was at its highest. (that stupid country has a different political ideology than mine - I hate them all!!) The other big problem with this film was its misleading marketing campaign. Le Divorce was marketed to Americans as your typical Kate Hudson romantic comedy, like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Those who have seen Le Divorce know that it isn't anything like that kind of single-girl-gets-boy movie. Even on the DVD case that I have, it says as the tag line, "Everything Sounds Sexier in French" ???? This has very little to do with the themes of the movie.
I thought this movie was a charming comedy of manners, being equally as hard on the French for their manners and customs as on the Americans. It's one of my favorites, and I've shown it to many people who now love it. I think it's a shame that many people will never see it because it was hated by a few viewers and a few critics who were expecting something else. Great script, brilliant cast, fantastic art direction...kind of wasted.

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[–] mmcvey1 12 years ago

So right. I didn't see in when it first released precisely because of the marketing. I loved it and thought the cast were excellent. Kate Hudson is really charming in this film.

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[–] Thomas-White2 15 years ago

I agree with you. I wrote a comment about why I think it's so underrated, perhaps you could read it and let me know what you think.

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[–] crooked_spoons 14 years ago

This thread is mighty old, but I just had to say, I love this film too. So much so that I will drop everything and watch it whenever it comes on. I can see why some people didn't like it, but honestly, I found it absolutely charming.

"...little girls who kiss frogs expect them to turn into YOU." - House

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[–] PepperCat 14 years ago

I think the movie is beautiful, well-acted (mostly), and subtle. I think it's fantastic.

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[–] auctionmaestra 14 years ago

I agree--I have seen this movie many times and own the dvd. Love it, thought it was a great adaptation. Question,though. Who played Edgar Cosset's wife? I don't see her anywhere in the credits and thought she did a great job.

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[–] Blueghost 14 years ago

by - mensahcarrelle on Sat Jun 14 2008 16:27:21
I think it was great.LE DIVORCE is cruelly underrated.Brilliant acting from everybody especially Naomi Watts and Kate Hudson who had a great chemistry(should co-star again some time).

The acting was fine, it's the story and movie itself that are bad. It's a comment on just how arrogant the French can be, and why most of the world despises them.

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[–] Tales-from-the-Goondocks 13 years ago

I think you got that wrong. Most of the world despises AMERICA. Not France.

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[–] dilateyourmind 13 years ago

This happens to be one of my favorite movies. It has been a special source of bonding between my sister and I. We watch it at least once a year together.

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[–] Sibyla01 12 years ago

I´m an European, and find most French unbereably arrogant. I know it´s a fashion in Europe now to despise USA, but I actually like Americans. PS: I love this movie!!!

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[–] Blueghost 9 years ago

Thank you for that confirmation.

Back in the late 90s there was a large French telecommunications technology firm that was trying to get into silicon valley. Suddenly I was running into more French in my neighborhood. Right where I shopped for groceries too.

They were the most arrogant SOBs you had ever come across in your entire life.

I even had some tailgate me when I went to a few computer parts stores, and not because of anything I had done on the road either.

The only thing I like about France is their women, provided they shave their armpits.

I've met Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Brits, Swedes, Germans, Italians, people from various parts of Africa, Arabs, Indians ... and they were predominantly all really nice people. I swear to you they were as normal as you or your friends.

But the French were an entirely different story. I'm almost sorry we liberated them from Germany in the 1940s.

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[–] drnossal 10 years ago

Nonsense. According to a 2013 BBC poll, the 10 most disliked nations are:

1. Iran
2. Pakistan
3. North Korea
4. Israel
5. Russia
6. India
7. South Africa
8. South Korea
9. China
10. USA

France is all the way down at... 13.

"You didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya?" - Morris Buttermaker

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[–] Blueghost 9 years ago

I think you'll find most of the wars in the 20th and 21st century are artifacts of the UK and French colonial period, and that if you ask males in a lot of Euro countries, then you'll find that the French are not well liked.

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