This sophisticated and witty comedy about business, politics and the dynamics of a dysfunctional family was the opening night attraction at this year's French Film Festival, and it is a crowd pleaser. Catherine Deneuve finds one of her best roles for some time here as Suzanne, a stay at home sixty-something woman who is married to the scheming and power hungry Robert (Fabrice Luchini), who runs the family umbrella factory with an iron fist. When the workers go on strike and take Robert hostage, Suzanne steps in to negotiate a truce. No longer willing to sit at home and play the trophy wife, Suzanne takes over the running of the business. She employs her two children to help with the day to day operations. And she even wins over Robert's secretary/mistress (Karin Viard) as a loyal ally to help implement some changes to the business. But that is just the start, and sets the scene for some unexpected complications in the third act. Potiche is based on a popular French farce written by Jean-Pierre Gredy, and Francois Ozon directs the material with unusual restraint, capturing the tone of those screwball comedies popular in the 60's and 70's. He makes the most of the 70's retro style settings and kitsch. Deneuve has appeared in several of Ozon's films, but this is her first appearance since 8 Women nearly a decade ago. She lends her luminous presence to the film, and brings a hidden strength, fire, intelligence, warmth and passion to her performance as the frustrated and sheltered housewife no longer willing to sit at home. In a smaller supporting role as a communist-leaning politician and former flame of Suzanne's, Gerard Depardieu has a twinkle in his eye and brings a light tough to the role. Both Deneuve and Depardieu are stalwarts of French cinema and the scenes they share together crackle with nostalgic touches of their film history. Luchini is good at playing weaselly, sleazy and unsympathetic characters, and he is very good here. Potiche is lightweight and frothy comedy with broad appeal.
