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Gustave Flaubert's masterpiece


I loved this adaptation of Flaubert's novel. I was struck by how Madame Bovary debased herself, running thru cow pastures and farm fields in her finery to meet lovers. Interesting too, that many women of that time would have considered themselves fortunate to be in a secure home, have a servant, and a faithful, though unromantic husband. Not enough, obviously. Great film!

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I've seen the film twice now (On Demand). I think Mia is a fascinating, sensitive, and convincing Emma; one that resembles not so much previous Bovary's from previous films, but actually the complicated anti-heroine of the novel, which I've long loved. To me she captures a lot of the paradoxes and ambiguous aspects of Emma, and manages to create empathy while making so many foolish, self-destructive choices. By the second viewing, I got past the differences from the book (I know all the dialogue and scenes) and the gradual pace of the film, and got into the stillness that builds to the emotional end (revisited). I haven't really felt any movie has come near to capturing the book (which may be impossible) but this one has it's own perspective, mystique and beauty (without the irony of the novel) and Mia's portrayal has the enigmatic, haunting qualities that have made me a Bovary addict.

As far as Emma running through the pastures, there was a lot of her responding to nature, including the hunt with the Marquis that I thought worked well as showing her, after the killing of the stag, seeking some power equal to men - in her case, she expressed it in her sexuality (through adultery); of course, this didn't work out very well. I think that in both the book and this film, Emma is seeking some measure of power, and of course love, but in a very unconscious way. The death scene I thought was beautifully done; it felt real to me.

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Thank you for your excellent insights, LifeVsArt! You should post this as a review of the film here on IMDB.😀

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I took your suggestion and spruced up my post and turned it into my IMDB review.
I'd planned on writing one anyway, but I guess I had already begun a review without realizing it.

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Wow this story Written over150 years ago is a cautionary tale indeed. Materialism plus bored housewife married to a workaholic doctor....sound familiar? Almost too real even in today's world. Very good movie!

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I think it shows that when people are unable to establish an emotional connection, there's an attempt to fill the void - this is definitely a modern condition, we're easily seduced by substitutes.

http://miawasikowskasource.com/photos/displayimage.php?pid=9407&fullsize=1

http://m-wasikowska.org/gallery/albums/albums/Film%20Productions/2014%20Madame%20Bovary/Official%20trailer/trailer_288829.jpg

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[deleted]

I felt as if she were a butterfly, being trapped in the convent school after her mother died, living such a regimented lifestyle in such austerity, the guy with the materials for dressmaking tempted her so much to buy so many dresses, and to make the house her home by adding the new rug, curtains and furniture etc.

I think she just wanted the chance to blossom, and still felt confined with her husband who had been chosen for her.

It's a shame that she didn't confide in him regarding the debt she was accruing, but she seemed very immature, she had led a sheltered life and thought she was now free to express herself.

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[deleted]

This is a write-up from a french historian/french literature professor (James Smith Allen) that examines Sophie Barthes' film in relationship to the book and other film adaptations. I thought it was really insightful - he knows his stuff.

http://h-france.net/fffh/classics/sophie-barthess-madame-bovary/

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Would still rather see Salammbo. :)

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